er 


y 


QAME    FISH 


NORTHERN   STATES  OF  AMERICA, 


BRITISH    PROVINCES. 


BY   BAKNWELL. 


NEW    YORK: 
Carlefon,    Publisher,  41 3    Broadway, 


(LATE  RUDD  &  CARLETON.) 
MBCOCLXII. 


ENTERED  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1862,  by 
G.    W.    CARLETON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District 
of  JJew  York. 


W.  H.  TINSOX,  Stereotyper. 


GEO.  RUSSELL,  Printer. 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Allowance  of  provisions 304 

Attihawmeg 147 

B. 

Bass,  black 21 7 

Otsego : 151 

rock 222 

Baits  for  trout 33 

Black  fly 289 

Blue-fish 153 

Boiestown 135 

C. 

Camp  life ..289 

stores 294 

Centrarchus  ccneus 222 

fasciatus 217 

Cisco 149 

Classification  of  fish 7,  321 

Cooking . .  .295-299 

Coregonus  albus .    147 

Otsego.. 151 

Common  carp. 163 

Crab  bait 205 

Curing  fish ;  . .  296 

Cyprinus  carpio 163 

E. 

Ephemera .284 

JSsox  estor 1 64 

faxciatus 187 

lucioides 181 

reticulatus. .  ..182 


PAGE 

Esox  tredecem  radiatus 184 

Expenses  to  New  Brunswick. . .  .321 


F. 

Flies  and  knots 255 

for  bass 275 

for  salmon 263 

for  trout 16 

French  vocabulary. ...» 320 

G. 

Ghost  of  Deadman's  Landing. . .  .126 

story  of  Abraham 129 

Glass-eye 224 

Green-fish 153 

Grystes  nigricans 217 

H. 

Horse  mackerel 153 


Insects  .,  ..277 


Knots 255 

L. 

Labrax  lineatus 202 

Landing  fish 28 

La  Val 61 

lake 77 

note  to..  ...320 


INDEX. 


Laws  of  fisheries 307 

Lucioperca  americana 224  Salmon. 


M. 

Mascallonge 164 

Mascanonga 164 

Marshpee 22 

Miramichi 120 

Moose  story 131 

N. 

Neuroptera 283 

New  Brunswick,  trip  to 116 

note 321 

Nipisiquit 140 

O. 

Ohio  salmon 225 

Otsego  bass 151 

P. 

Perca  labrax 202 

Jtavescens 228 

Perch,  yellow 228 

Pickerel 168 

common 182 

great  northern 181 

Long  Island 187 

Pickering 224 

Pike,  federation 184 

of  the  lakes 224 

perch 224 

Propagation  of  fish 230 

Phryganea 284 

R. 

Report  of  Mr.  Whitcher 315 

Roe  of  shad  or  salmon 204 

Rock-fish..  202 


fishing 92,  102 

habits  of 98 

rivers 167 

rivers,  how  to  reach  them  111 
time  for  catching.  . .  .94,  308 

place  for  catching 94 

rod  for 91 

Ohio , 225 

Salmo  salar 88 

trutta  marina 41 

Sciena  lineata 202 

Scollops 207 

Sea  trout 41 

time  for  catching 308 

Shrimp  bait 205 

Skipjack 153 

Smoking  fish 297 

Snap-hook 176 

Snapping  mackerel , 157 

Spearing 209,  316 

Spoons 174 

T. 

Temnodon  saltator 155 

Tents..., 293,  303 

Thousand  Isles 189 

Transportation  of  fish 249 

Trimmers  for  pickerel 177 

Trout,    American     speckled,    or 

brook 12 

flies  for 16 

fly-fishing  for 18 

baits  for 23 

sea,  white  or  silver  ......  41 

white,  or  Scoodic 145 

W. 

White-fish 147 

trout 146 


GAME    FISH. 


CHAPTEK   I. 

INSTRUCTION. 

I  HAVE  always  considered  a  preface  or  introduction  a 
species  of  apology,  and  not  intending  that  the.  following 
sketches  shall  need  any  apology,  I  shall  write  no  intro- 
duction ;  but  an  explanation  of  the  scientific  distinctions 
and  divisions  of  fishes  may  not  only  be  appropriate  but 
highly  instructive,  if  my  readers  be  as  ignorant  as  I 
think  them. 

It  has  been  a  matter  of  serious  reproach  by  the 
naturalists  against  the  sportsmen,  that  the  latter,  instead 
of  adopting  a  uniform  nomenclature,  call  a  bird  or  fish 
in  one  section  of  our  country  by  a  different  name  from 
that  under  which  it  is  known  in  another ;  that  a  Quail 
and  Black  Bass  at  the  North  become  a  Partridge  and 
Trout  at  the  South.  The  sportsmen,  conscious  of  the 
justness  of  the  reproach,  have  submitted  quietly  to  the 
learned  stones  of  reproof  hurled  at  them,  and  scarcely 
dared  to  suggest  that  their  persecutors  lived  in  the  most 
fragile  of  glass  houses ;  that  naturalists  were  liable  to 


6  INSTRUCTION. 

the  same  accusation,  and  that  there  is  hardly  a  fish,  bird 
or  beast  that  they  have  not  called  by  several  different 
names.  Are  not  the  contentions  of  Ortyx  and  Perdrix 
known  to  all?  Is  it  quite  certain,  when  we  catch  an 
Otsego  Bass,  whether  we  catch  a  Coregonus  Otsego  or  a 
Coregonus  Albus,  or  even  a  Salmo  Otsego  ?  Is  it  per- 
fectly ascertained  from  a  scientific  point  of  view  that  we 
catch  anything  ?  Who  does  not  know  that  a  Tautog  is  a 
Blackfish,  or  would  be  materially  instructed  by  hearing 
him  called  a  Tautoga  Americana?  Scientific  men  vie 
with  one  another  in  creating  new  names,  the  most  use- 
less things  in  Christendom ;  while  sportsmen  are  happy 
to  take  them,  the  game,  as  they  find  them.  The  first  are 
guilty  of  faults  of  commission,  the  latter  of  omission. 
The  language  of  each  is  Greek  to  the  other. 

The  writer  of  these  sketches,  knowing  just  sufficient 
Greek  to  be  a  sportsman,  and  yet  able  to  translate  with 
the  help  of  a  dictionary,  offers,  from  the  want  of  one 
more  worthy,  to  conciliate  all  differences.  His  plan  is 
to  translate  all  terms  that  are  translatable,  and  to  omit 
altogether  those  that  are  not,  trusting  that  they  will 
never  be  missed.  His  intention  at  first  was  to  write  a 
noble  work  on  natural  history  that  would  carry  his  name 
in  letters  of  gold,  as  a  public  reformer  and  benefactor,  to 
latest  posterity ;  but  finding,  on  reviewing  his  stores  of 
information,  that  he  knew  but  little  on  the  subject,  he 
was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  idea.  Being  therefore 
nothing  but  a  gentle  angler,  instead  of  instructing  the 
universe,  he  is  content  to  amuse  a  small  circle  of  lovers 
of  sporting  anecdotes,  and,  provided  he  receives  it,  will 
be  content  with  their  approval.  As,  however,  one  fool 


INSTRUCTION.  7 

can  always  teach  another  something,  the  writer  feels 
impelled  to  mingle  a  little  instruction  in  doses  to  suit 
the  weakest  stomach,  that  those  who  have  not  skipped 
this  chapter  on  account  of  its  title,  may  at  least  receive 
something  for  their  perseverance.  They  need  not  sup- 
pose for  a  moment  that  the  writer  pretends  to  insist  upon 
what  he  shall  write  as  infallible,  bnt  where  his  readers 
differ  from  him,  is  perfectly  willing  to  admit  that  he  is 
entirely  mistaken  ;  the  buyer  of  a  book  is  always  right, 
the  author  a  toujours  tort. 

He  supposes — let  there  be  no  misunderstandings  when 
he  accidentally  uses  a  stronger  word — that  fishes  are 
divided  into  two  great  orders,  and  are  distinguished  as 
having  bony  or  cartilaginous  skeletons ;  thus  a  quawl, 
provided  he  be  a  fish  at  all,  would  be  a  very  cartilagi- 
nous one,  and  a  catfish  with  his  back  fin  erected,  as  the 
writer  has  often  learned  to  his  cost,  is  a  bony  fish. 

As  the  cartilaginous  fish  are  of  small  account,  the 
reader  may  forget  all  about  them  if  he  wishes,  but  he  is 
requested  to  remember  the  useful  division  of  those  hav- 
ing bony  skeletons  into  the  great  classes,  easily  distin- 
guished, of  the  soft  finned  and  spiny  finned,  called  in 
foreign  languages  by  the  horrible  terms  malacopterygii 
and  acanthopterygii — terms  unpronounceable  except  by  a 
Dutchman  or  a  philosopher.  These  classes  are  distin- 
guished, as  the  English  words  imply,  by  their  having  the 
rays  of  their  fins  soft  and  flexible  or  hard  and  spine-like. 
The  investigator  may  determine  their  peculiarities  by 
pressing  strongly  upon  the  points  of  the  fin  rays ;  if 
nature  intimates  that  his  organism  is  suffering,  the  fish  is 
a  acanthop)  etc. ;  if  not,  why  not. 


8 


INSTRUCTION. 


The  location  of  the  fins  of  the  fish  mark  the  subdivi- 
sions of  the  families.  The  above  diagram  being  supposed 
to  represent  a  fish,  and  a  Trout  at  that,  a  is  the  first  back 
or  dorsal  fin,  F  the  second — in  the  case  of  this  species, 
mere  rayless,  fatty  matter ;  E  is  the  tail  fin  or  caudal — 
the  writer,  as  a  married  man,  naturally  avoiding  the 


INSTRUCTION.  9 

latter  term  on  account  of  its  suggest! veness  ;  D  is  the  anal 
fin,  for  which  the  writer  can  offer  no  English  substitute ; 
c  are  the  two  ventrals  or  belly  fins ;  B  is  the  pectoral  or 
shoulder  fin,  having  a  complemental  one  on  the  other 
side  of  the  fish ;  and  A  represents  what  in  learned  lan- 
guage are  called  branchiostegous  rays,  a  name  that, 
being  translated,  means  merely  gill-rays.  What  is  not 
in  a  name  !  H  is  the  lateral  line.  Then  bearing  in  mind 
the  great  divisions  of  soft  and  hard  finned,  the  subdi- 
visions are  distinguished  by  the  fish  having  the  ventrals 
behind  the  pectorals  and  on  the  abdomen,  giving  them 
the  name  of  abdominal  fish,  or  before  the  pectorals, 
giving  rise  to  the  name  jugular  or  throat  finned,  and 
below  the  pectorals,  giving  the  name  thoracic  or  shoulder- 
finned  fish.  Philosophers  pay  little  attention  to  the 
dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  fish,  without  losing  their  iden- 
tity, can  have  as  many  as  they  please.  In  caudals, 
unlike  human  Caudles,  they  are  restricted  to  one.  There 
are  other  fish,  such  as  eels,  denominated  apodal  or 'footless, 
because  the  lower  fins  or  feet  are  wholly  wanting. 

After  having  examined  the  texture,  number  and  loca- 
tion of  the  fins,  and  counted  the  number  of  the  rays  in 
each,  the  naturalist  next  turns  his  attention  to  the  hard 
bony  portion  of  the  head,  which  covers  the  gills,  and  opens 
and  shuts  as  the  fish  breathes,  and  which,  with  the  excel- 
lent common  sense  for  which  naturalists  are  notorious, 
he  calls  the  operculum.  It  is  divided  into  the  operculum, 
or  gill-cover  proper,  No.  1 ;  the  pre-operculum,  or  fore 
gill-cover,  No.  2 ;  the  inter-operculum,  or  middle  gill- 
cover,  No.  3  ;  and  the  sub-operculum,  or  under  gill-cover, 
No.  4.  The  head,  in  the  foregoing  diagram,  is  intended 

1* 


10  INSTRUCTION. 

to  represent  the  head  of  a  trout,  weighing  a  pound  and  a 
half,  caught  at  Phillipse's  Pond,  near  Smith  Town,  Long 
Island.  The  gill-rajs  are  shown  at  No.  5.  The  divisions 
of  the  gill-cover  are  faintly  marked  in  the  real  fish,  and 
require  some  study. 

Lastly,  the  naturalist  examines  a  fish  as  a  jockey  does 
a  horse,  by  looking  at  his  teeth,  and  with  about  equally 
satisfactory  results.  They  both  are  bitten,  whether  the 
term  be  used  in  a  literal  or  metaphorical  sense.  The 
writer  once,  after  catching  a  large  fish,  having  heard  that 
trout  had  teeth  in  their  throats,  proceeded  to  investigate. 
Moved  thereto  by  the  spirit  of  inquiry,  he  thrust  one 
finger  as  far  as  possible  down  the  trout's  mouth,  and 
was  not  a  little  surprised,  as  well  as  pained,  to  find  that 
the  throat  was  lined  with  teeth  sharper  than  a  serpent's, 
and  arranged  in  the  same  manner.  They  inclined  back- 
ward, and  once  having  penetrated  a  substance,  would 
not  and  could  not  let  go.  The  writer  having  suffered  the 
agony  that  the  pursuit  of  science  sometimes  involves, 
after  exhausting  gentle  means  of  escape,  and  knowing 
that  he  could  no  more  wear  a  trout,  than  the  old  man  in 
the  "Decameron"  could  the  protecting  ring,  with  a 
wrench  tore  away  his  hand,  a  bleeding  sacrifice  to  sci- 
ence. Any  reader  wishing  to  ascertain  the  same  facts, 
may  pursue  a  similar  course. 

On  the  foregoing  diagram,  which  represents  the 
arrangement  of  teeth  in  the  salmon  tribe,  No.  6  is  the 
upper  jaw,  and  No.  7  the  lower ;  No.  8,  the  outer  teeth 
in  the  upper  jaw,  superior  maxillary  /  No.  9,  the  same 
in  the  lower  jaw,  inferior  maxillary  ;  No.  10,  the  inner 
row  of  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw  called  learnedly  the  polar 


INSTRUCTION.  H 

tine  ;  No  11,  the  teeth  in  the  tongue,  and  ~No.  12  those 
on  the  roof  of  the  month,  or  vomerine.  The  tront  the 
writer  has  examined  had  no  visible  teeth  on  the  roof  of 
the  mouth ;  they  had  either  suffered  from  toothache 
in  early  life,  and  applying  to  a  piscatorial  dentist,  had 
them  drawn,  or  the  teeth  had  slipped  down  and  settled 
round  their  throats  as  the  writer  has  already  mentioned. 
The  reader,  therefore,  if  he  wishes  to  ascertain  the 
scientific  designation  of  a  fish,  should  in  the  first  place 
determine  the  number  and  location  of  the  fins,  the  num- 
ber and  quality,  as  soft  or  hard,  of  the  rays,  the  number 
of  gill-rays,  the  characteristics  and  position  of  the  teeth, 
the  formation  of  the  gill-cover,  and  lastly,  as  every  num- 
scull,  the  drawing  teachers  assure  us,  who  can  write  can 
draw,  a  drawing  of  the  fish,  or  at  least  an  outline, 
should  be  made.  The  latter  can  be  done  simply  by 
laying  the  specimen  on  a  sheet  of  paper,  spreading  out 
his  fins  and  running  a  pencil  round  him.  And  then  the 
would-be  naturalist  will  ascertain  whether  or  not  he 
belongs  to  a  class  so  very  liberal  as  to  include  salmon 
and  smelt  in  the  same  category.  He  must  not  forget 
that  it  is  much  more  important  to  study  the  nature, 
habits  and  food  of  the  denizens  of  the  water  than  to  store 
his  memory  with  their  names,"  for  our  philosophers  hith- 
erto, instead  of  studying  their  nature,  have  been  em- 
ployed in  increasing  their  catalogues,  and  the  reader, 
instead  of  observations  or  facts,  is  presented  with  a  long 
list  of  names  that  disgust  him  with  their  barren  super- 
fluity." 


12  THE,  AMERICAN    TROUT. 


CHAPTEK  II. 

THE     AMERICAN      TROUT. 

THE  Brook  Trout — The  New  York  Charr — Sal/mo 
fontinalis. — Salmon  tribe  ;  ventrals  in  abdomen,  rays 
soft. 

The  shoulder  and  first  back  fins  have  each  eleven  rays ; 
the  second  back  fin  is  mere  fatty  matter  and  rayless,  the 
characteristic  of  the  salmon  tribe ;  the  ventral  has  eight, 
the  anal  fifteen,  and  the  tail  nineteen  rays.  The  back  is 
dusky  green,  mottled  with  yellow  spots ;  growing  lighter 
on  the  sides,  where  the  spots  have  irregularly  a  beau- 
tiful blue  or  carmine  speck  in  the  centre;  the  belly 
is  silver  white,  with  a  roseate  tinge  as  it  fades  into  the 
darker  colors  of  the  sides  ;  the  shoulder  fins  are  yellowish 
at  the  base,  the  ventrals  yellowish  red,  the  anal  reddish, 
and  in  all  the  rays  are  dusky.  The  gill-covers  have  no 
defined  spots. 

The  body  is  covered  with  delicate  scales  that  will 
escape  all  but  the  strictest  observation.  The  teeth  are 
on  the  tongue  and  throat,  but  none  on  the  roof  of  the 
mouth  discernible  to  the  naked  eye;  there  is  an  outer 
row  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  an  inner  and  outer  row  on  the 
upper  jaw.  This  fish  is  so  well  known  to  the  public  from 
its  extensive  distribution  through  the  northern  States, 
and  so  totally  dissimilar  from  the  Perch  and  Bass,  mis- 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  13 

called  Trout  at  the  South,  that  a  more  particular  descrip- 
tion does  not  seem  necessary. 

Another  fish  taken  at  the  North  in  the  smaller  lakes  is 
called  Red  Trout,  and  attains  the  weight  of  twenty-five 
pounds.  It  is  rare,  and  would  appear  to  be  an  unde- 
scribed  species,  differing  from  the  trout  of  the  brooks 
and  lakes,  and  not  generally  known  even  to  sportsmen. 
A  fish  of  a  somewhat  similar  character  was  on  exhibition 
at  an  eating-house  in  this  city,  but  appeared  to  have 
been  scaled.  It  was  three  feet  six  inches  long,  and 
weighed  eighteen  pounds.  The  back  was  very  dark,  the 
sides  being  of  a  lighter  neutral  tint,  without  any  spots. 
There  were  a  number  of  vomerine  teeth,  and  the  fin- 
rays,  as  far  as  could  be  ascertained  by  a  cursory 
examination,  were — 

JBr.  12 ;  D.  13  ;  P.  11 ;  Y.  8 ;  A.  11 ;  C.  19f . 

This  fish  was  said  to  have  been  taken  in  Maine,  and 
differed  entirely  from  the  ordinary  brook  and  lake  trout. 
The  fin-rays  of  the  brook  trout,  as  scientifically  given 
by  De  Kay,  are — 

D.  13-0  ;  P.  12 ;  Y.  8 ;  A.  10 ;  C.  19*. 

Trout  are  in  season  from  the  first  of  February  to  the 
first  of  September  in  the  Long  Island  streams ;  from  April 
to  September  in  those  streams  of  the  ]S"ew  England  States 
that  communicate  with  salt  water ;  and  from  May  till 
September  in  the  upland  waters  of  the  middle  and  east- 
ern States.  There  is  but  one  mode  of  taking  them — 
namely,  with  the  fly ;  although  it  is  said  poachers  and 
pot  hunters  capture  them  with  worms,  minnows,  nets, 
and  even  with  their  own  roe.  These  villanies  are  not 
at  present  punished  with  death  nor  even  imprisonment 


14  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

for  life ;  but  our  legislature  is  looking  into  the  matter, 
and  there  is  no  telling  how  soon  such  statutes  may  be 
passed. 

How  splendid  is  the  sport,  to  deftly  throw  the  long 
line  and  small  fly  with  the  pliant  single-handed  rod,  and 
with  eye  and  nerve  on  the  strain,  to  watch  the  loveliest 
darling  of  the  wave,  the  spotted  naiad,  dart  from  her 
mossy  bed,  leap  high  into  the  air,  carrying  the  strange 
deception  in  her  mouth,  and  turning  in  her  flight,  plunge 
back  to  her  crystal  home,  with  the  cruel  hook  driven  into 
her  lips  by  a  skillful  turn  of  the  angler's  wrist ;  to  meet 
and  foil  her  in  her  fierce  and  cunning  efforts  to  escape, 
paying  out  the  line  as  she  rushes  away  resistless,  meeting 
her  in  emergencies  firmly  and  steadily,  till  the  tip  crosses 
the  but,  when  she  insists  upon  reaching  the  old  stump 
or  the  weedy  bottom ;  to  slack  the  line  when  she  leaps 
into  air,  trying  to  strike  it  with  her  tail ;  and  above  all, 
to  watch  the  right  moment,  and  keeping  her.  head  well 
up,  to  bring  the  beautiful  prize  quickly  and  steadily  to 
the  net !  There  may  be  others  who  have  killed  more  and 
larger  trout  than  myself,  there  may  be  others  who  can 
cast  a  longer  line  and  lighter  fly ;  but  there  are  none  who 
will  work  more  steadily  or  who  can  enjoy  it  more 
intensely. 

There  are  innumerable  rules  applicable  to  trout  fishing 
and  innumerable  exceptions  to  each;  neither  man  nor 
fish  is  infallible.  A  change  of  weather  is  always  desir- 
able :  if  it  has  been  clear,  a  rainy  day  is  favorable ;  if 
cold,  a  warm  one ;  if  the  wind  has  been  north,  a  south- 
erly one  is  advantageous ;  a  zephyr  if  it  has  been  blowing 
a  tornado.  Generally,  in  early  spring,  amid  the  fading 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  15 

snows  and  blasts  of  winter,  a  warm  day  is  very  desirable ; 
later,  and  in  the  heats  of  summer,  a  cold,  windy  day  will 
insure  success.  Dead  calm  is  dangerous,  although  many 
trout  are  taken  in  water  as  still,  clear  and  transparent 
as  the  heavens  above.  The  first  rule  is  never  to  give 
up ;  there  is  hardly  a  day  but  at  some  hour,  if  there  be 
trout,  they  will  rise,  and  steady,  patient  industry  disci- 
plines the  mind  and  invigorates  the  muscles.  A  south- 
erly, especially  a  southeasterly  wind,  has  a  singular 
tendency  to  darken  the  surface,  and  in  clear,  fine  waters 
is  particularly  advantageous ;  a  southwester  comes  next  in 
order;  a  northeaster,  in  which,  by  the  by,  occasionally 
there  is  great  success,  is  the  next ;  and  a  northwester  is 
the  worst  and  clearest  of  all.  Give  me  wind  on  any 
terms,  a  southerly  wind  if  I  can  have  it ;  but  give  me 
wind.  It  is  not  known  what  quality  of  the  wind  darkens 
the  water,  it  may  be  a  haziness  produced  in  the  atmos- 
phere, although  with  a  cloudy  sky  the  water  is  often  too 
transparent;  it  may  be  the  peculiar  character  of  the 
waves,  short  and  broken,  as  contradistinguished  from 
long  and  rolling ;  but  the  fact  is  entitled  to  reliance. 

Slight  changes  will  often  aifect  the  fish.  On  one  day 
in  June,  in  the  writer's  experience,  after  having  no  luck 
till  eleven  o'clock,  the  trout  suddenly  commenced  rising, 
and  kept  on  without  cessation,  scarcely  giving  time  to 
cast,  till  two,  when  they  as  suddenly  stopped.  There  was 
no  observable  change  in  the  weather,  except  the  advent 
of  a  slight  haze,  the  wind  remaining  precisely  the  same. 
I  was  much  disappointed,  not  having  half  fished  the 
ground  and  being  prevented,  by  the  numbers  that  were 
taken,  from  casting  over  some  of  the  largest  fish  that 


16  THE   AMERICAN    TROUT. 

broke.  As  it  was,  I  caught  seventy  trout  in  what  is 
ordinarily  considered  the  worst  hours  of  the  day.  But 
in  this  particular,  also,  the  same  rules  apply  as  to  the 
warmth  of  the  weather.  In  early  spring  it  is  useless  to 
be  up  with  the  lark,  even  supposing  such  a  bird  exists ; 
no  fish  will  break  the  water  till  the  sun  has  warmed  the 
air ;  but  in  summer,  the  dawn  should  blush  to  find  the 
sportsman  napping.  In  fact,  trout  will  not  rise  well 
unless  the  air  is  warmer  thali  the  water.  They  do  not 
like  to  risk  taking  cold  by  exposing  themselves  to  a 
sudden  draught. 

There  is  a  very  absurd  impression,  that  trout  will  not 
take  the  fly  early  in  the  season  ;  this  is  entirely  unfound- 
ed. As  soon  as  the  ice  disappears  they  will  be  found 
gambolling  in  the  salt  water  streams,  and  leaping  readily 
at  the  fly.  At  such  times,  on  lucky  days,  immense 
numbers  are  taken.  In  March  they  have  run  up  the 
sluiceways  and  are  in  the  lower  ponds,  lying  sullenly  in 
the  deepest  water ;  then  is  the  cow-dung,  politely  called 
the  dark  cinnamon,  the  most  attractive  fly.  In  April, 
May  and  June  they  are  scattered,  and  entrapped  by  the 
hackles,  professor,  ibis,  and  all  the  medium  sized  flies. 
In  July  and  August  they  have  sought  the  headwaters  of 
navigation,  the  cool  spring  brooks,  and  hide  around  the 
weeds  and  water-cresses,  whence  the  midges  alone  can 
tempt  them. 

Any  flies  will  catch  fish,  cast  in  any  manner,  if  the 
fish  are  plenty  and  in  humor  to  be  caught.  A  few  fea- 
thers torn  from  the  nearest  and  least  suspicious  chicken, 
and  tied  on  an  ordinary  hook  with  a  piece  of  thread, 
will  constitute  a  fly  in  the  imagination  of  a  trout,  pro- 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  17 

vided  he  follows,  as  he  sometimes  appears  to  do,  the 
advice  of  the  young  folks,  shuts  his  eyes  and  opens  his 
mouth.  I  cannot  recommend  such  tackle,  being  con- 
vinced the  most  skillfully  made  is  the  best ;  but  I  do 
advise  simplicity  of  color.  One  of  the  best  of  all  flies 
is  the  female  cow-dung,  made  of  a  dark  cinnamon  color, 
and  after  the  pattern  used  in  England  ;  there  is  a  green- 
ish abomination  unjustly  foisted  upon  American  inven- 
tion that  is  worthless.  The  hackles  are  in  my  opinion 
altogether  inferior,  except  the  black-winged  hackle, 
which,  of  a  bright  warm  day,  is  irresistible.  The  ibis 
and  professor,  dressed  d  V Americaine,  with  yellow  floss 
body  and  red  tail,  are  both  excellent  flies.  The  coach- 
man is  the  best  evening  fly,  and  will  attract  trout  long 
after  the  angler  can  see  to  strike  them,  and  when  the 
sound  of  their  plunge  alone  entices  him  to  continue  his 
efforts.  The  May  and  stone  flies  are  good,  and  of  late  years 
a  fly  of  mixed  red  and  black,  with  wings,  called  by  some, 
from  his  colors,  the  devil-fly,  has  come  into  vogue.  The 
palmers  are  only  to  be  despised  and  avoided.  In  sum- 
mer, of  the  midges  the  yellow  sally,  the  alder  fly,  the 
little  cinnamon,  the  black  gnat,  the  black  and  red  ants, 
and  in  fact  all  others,  are  attractive.  The  water  is  then 
covered  with  myriads  of  many-colored  flies,  and  there  is 
hardly  any  artificial  but  will  find  its  representative  among 
the  real  life. 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the  flies  that  can  be  pur- 
chased in  the  shops,  which  yearly  invent  new  varie- 
ties, regardless  of  truth  to  nature  or  the  recommend- 
ations of  experience.  Many  have  no  names  whatever, 
and  in  others  the  workman  has  given  his  fancy  such  play 


18  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

that  they  are  unrecognizable.  In  these  pages,  when  the 
name  is  given  of  any  fly  described  in  Honald's  u  Fly- 
Fisher's  Entomology,"  it  is  intended  that  it  shall  be 
dressed  after  the  directions  therein  contained.  A  more 
full  description  of  the  various  flies,  both  in  use  and  to  be 
found  in  our  waters,  will  be  given  hereafter  with  some 
directions  for  tying  them  ;  but  a  great  deal  must  be  left 
to  the  practical  experience  of  each  fisherman,  according 
to  the  range  of  waters  he  is  in  the  habit  of  fishing. 

Good  luck,  that  synonym  for  all  the  virtues,  does  not 
depend  so  much  upon  the  kind  of  flies  as  the  skill  in 
casting,  and  a  poor  fly  lightly  cast  into  the  right  spot 
will  do  better  execution  than  the  best  fly  roughly  cast 
into  the  wrong  place.  The  lure  must  be  put  where  the 
fish  habit,  often  before  their  very  noses,  or  they  will  not 
take  it ;  and  when  they  lie,  as  they  generally  do  in  run- 
ning streams,  in  the  deep  holes  under  the  banks,  where 
the  bushes  are  closest  and  cause  the  densest  shade,  it 
requires  some  skill  to  cast  properly  into  the  exact  spot. 
Sacrifice  everything  to  lightness  in  casting ;  let  the  line 
go  straight  without  a  kink  if  you  can,  drop  the  fly  into 
the  right  ripple  if  possible,  but  it  must  drop  gently  on 
the  surface  of  the  water.  An  ugly  splash  of  a  clear  day 
in  pure  water,  and  the  prey  will  dart  in  every  direction, 
and  the  angler's  hopes  scatter  with  them. 

A  beginner  may  practise  a  certain  formula,  such  as 
lifting  the  line  with  a  waive  and  a  smart  spring,  swinging 
it  backward  in  a  half  circle,  and  when  it  is  directly 
behind  him,  casting  straight  forward ;  but  as  soon  as  he 
has  overcome  the  rudimentary  principles,  he  should  cast 
in  every  manner,  making  the  tip  of  his  rod  cut  full  cir- 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  19 

cles,  figure  eights,  and  all  other  figures,  behind  him, 
according  to  the  wind ;  bearing  in  mind,  however,  ever 
to  make  his  fly  drop  as  gently  as  a  feather.  He  should 
use  his  wrist  mainly,  and  practise  with  each  hand,  and 
should  never  be  otherwise  than  ashamed  of  a  bungling 
cast,  though  he  be  "alone,  and  none  but  the  fish  there  to 
despise  him.  If  the  line  falls  the  first  time  with  a  heart- 
rending splash  all  in  a  tangle,  it  is  useless  to  make  the 
next  cast  properly.  The  fish  have  found  out  the  trick,  and 
know  too  much  to  risk  their  necks  in  any  such  a  noose. 

A  skillful  fisherman  can  cast  almost  any  length  of  line, 
but  practically,  fifty  feet,  counting  from  the  reel,  is  all 
that  can  be  used  to  advantage.  Some  English  books  say 
only  the  leader  (gut  links)  should  alight  in  the  water ;  but 
this  is  nonsense,  for  at  least  one  half  the  line  must  fall 
into  the  water,  unless  the  fisherman  stand  on  a  high 
bank.  "With  a  long  line  the  difficulties  of  striking  and 
landing  the  fish  are  greatly  increased ;  in  striking,  there 
is  much  slack  line  to  be  taken  up ;  in  landing,  it  requires 
some  time  to  get  the  fish  under  control,  and  he  is  apt  to 
reach  the  weeds  or  a  stump. 

That  most  excellent  fisherman  and  learned  scholar,  Dr. 
Bethune,  in  his  edition  of  Walton,  Part  II.,  page  73, 
says  that  candid  anglers  must  confess  that  nine  out  of  ten 
trout  hook  themselves ;  this  may  be  so  in  streams  teeming 
with  fish,  where  a  dozen  start  at  once,  frantically  striving 
to  be  the  first ;  but  in  clear,  well-fished  streams,  not  one 
fish  in  a  thousand  will  hook  himself;  and  on  Long  Island 
an  angler  would  grow  grey  ere  he  filled  his  basket  if  he 
did  not  strike,  and  that  quickly.  Striking,  to  my  mind, 
is  by  far  the  most  important  point,  and  hundreds  of  fish 


20  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

have  I  seen  escape  for  want  of  quickness.  It  must  bo 
done  quickly  but  steadily,  and  not  with  a  jerk,  as  the 
latter  is  apt,  by  the  double  action  of  the  rod,  to  bend  the 
tip  forward  and  loosen  instead  of  tightening  the  line. 
There  are  days  when  fish  cannot  be  struck,  although  they 
are  rising  freely  ;  whether  they  are  playing  or  over-cau- 
tious, I  never  could  determine ;  whether  they  are  not 
hungry  or  the  water  is  too  clear,  they  put  man's  capacities 
at  defiance.  Their  appearance  must  be  signalled  to  the 
eye,  by  that  reported  to  the  brain,  which  then  directs  the 
nerves  to  command  the  muscles  to  move  the  wrist ;  and 
ere  this  complicated  performance  is  completed,  the  fish 
has  blown  from  his  mouth  the  feathery  deception  and 
has  darted  back  to  his  haunts  of  safety.  A  fish  will 
occasionally  leap  up,  seize  the  fly,  discover  the  cheat,  and 
shaking  his  head,  jump  several  feet  along  the  surface  of 
the  water  to  rid  his  mouth  of  it,  and  do  this  so  quickly 
as  not  to  give  a  quick  angler  time  to  strike.  How  often 
fish  are  caught  when  they  rise  the  second  time,  as  then 
the  angler  is  more  on  the  alert,  whereas  on  the  first  rise 
he  was  off  his  guard !  How  often  fish  rise  when  the 
angler's  head  is  turned  away  from  his  line,  or  when  he  is 
busy  at  something  else,  and  how  rarely  are  they  caught ! 
In  my  experience  it  is  so  great  a  rarity,  that  it  might 
almost  be  said  they  never  hook  themselves.  In  the  lan- 
guage of  youth,  the  only  hooking  they  do  is  to  hook  off. 
Dr.  Bethune,  page  97.  says  the  rod  should  not  exceed 
one  pound  in  weight.  Indeed  it  should  not,  and  if  it  does, 
it  exemplifies  the  old  maxim,  so  far  as  to  have  a  fool  at 
one  end.  If  we  could  fish  by  steam,  a  rod  exceeding  a 
pound  and  measuring  over  fourteen  feet  might  answer 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  21 

well,  but  in  these  benighted  days,  while  wrists  are  made 
of  bone,  muscles,  cartilages  and  the  like,  the  lighter  the 
better.  A  rod,  and  if  perfection  is  absolutely  indispens- 
able, a  cedar  rod  of  eleven  or  twelve  feet,  weighing  nine 
or  ten  ounces,  will  catch  trout.  Cedar  rods  can  only  be 
obtained  in  America,  and  then  only  on  compulsion,  but 
this  wood  makes  the  most  elastic  rods  in  the  world.  They 
spring  instantly  to  every  motion  of  the  hand,  and  never 
warp.  They  are  delicate ;  the  wood  is,  like  woman,  cross- 
grained,  but  invaluable  if  carefully  treated.  The  reel 
should  be  a  simple  click,  never  a  multiplier,  but  large 
barrelled,  and  fastened  to  the  but  with  a  leather  strap. 
The  line,  silk  covered  with  a  preparation  of  oil,  tapered 
if  possible  at  each  end,  and  thirty  to  forty  yards  long. 
The  basket,  positive,  a  fish-basket ;  the  angler,  compara- 
tive, a  fisher-man. 

Thus  equipped,  go  forth  mildly  approving  where  the 
writer's  opinions  coincide  with  yours,  simply  incredulous 
where  they  do  not.  Ere  you  begin,  however,  you  may 
wish  to  know  the  size  of  the  fish  you  can  catch,  a  matter 
of  no  little  intricacy,  for  though  we  all  know  the  size  of 
the  fish  we  have  ourselves  caught,  there  is  always  some 
one  else  that  has  caught  larger.  My  largest  trout,  at 
the  time  this  is  written,  was  taken  on  the  Marshpee 
River,  on  Cape  Cod,  and  weighed  three  pounds  and 
fourteen  ounces.  But  it  is  said  there  were  inland 
brook  trout  exhibited  at  the  New  York  Club  by  a  mem- 
ber in  the  year  1857,  the  two  largest  of  which  weighed 
cleaned  six  pounds  and  a  half  each.  "I  have  my 
doubts."  These  fish  should  have  weighed,  when  first 
taken,  nearly  eight  pounds,  double  the  size  of  any  trout, 


22  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

other  than  sea  trout,  I  have  ever  seen  or  before  that 
heard  of.  In  my  opinion,  they  were  lake  trout,  caught, 
perhaps,  from  a  small  pond,  and  bright  colored.  It  was 
claimed  they  were  taken  with  the  fly,  which  lake  trout 
will  not  ordinarily  touch ;  but,  unfortunately,  it  w^as 
also  said,  that  two  weighing  about  five  pounds  each 
were  caught  and  landed  on  one  cast,  and  that  this  was 
done  twice.  Now  confidence  in  our  neighbors'  truth 
is  the  framework  of  society,  but  there  is  a  limit  to 
human  credulity,  and  catching  two  five  pound  trout  at 
one  cast,  is  at  the  very  verge  of  that  limit.  ISTo  one, 
except  by  the  most  incredible  good  fortune,  could  kill 
two  such  fish  on  any  ordinary  fly-tackle,  with  any  ordi- 
nary fly-rod.  The  hooks  would  almost  certainly  tear 
out,  and  no  strain  could  possibly  be  kept  on  the  lower 
fish,  which,  by  slacking  up  his  line  and  then  darting 
away,  would  probably  go  free.  But  great  luck  alone 
could  enable  a  person  to  land  two  such  fish ;  the  lower 
one  would  never  drown,  being  at  perfect  liberty — by  the 
by,  trout  never  die  in  the  water,  they  always  save 
enough  life  for  one  final  rush — and  when  the  upper  fish 
was  landed  or  gaifed,  the  lower  would  go  off  in  a  jiffy. 
When  a  person  claims  to  do  this  twice  in  a  day,  he  must 
be  pronounced  a  lucky  man  indeed. 

We  caught  our  big  trout  in  the  Marshpee,  and  we 
will  tell  you  how  we  did  it,  though  the  words  make  us 
blush  as  we  write  them.  We  were  young  then,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  innocent ;  and  having  gone  to  Sandwich, 
on  Cape  Cod,  in  search  of  untried  fields,  discovered  a 
jolly,  corpulent  landlord,  named  Teasedale,  who,  with 
his  friend,  Johnny  Trout,  so  named  jocosely,  were  the 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  23 

fishermen  of  the  neighborhood.  That  was  before  the 
stream  was  preserved  for  the  benefit  of  the  "  Poor 
Indian,"  and  poorer  fishermen  mulcted,  as  at  present,  in 
five  dollars  a  day  for  the  privilege  of  fishing.  "We  drove 
to  the  stream,  almost  six  miles,  Teasedale  enlivening  the 
early  June  morning  with  snatches  of  hunting  songs,  and 
when  there  plunged  recklessly  in.  Oh !  but  the  water 
was  cold — a  dozen  large  springs  poured  in  their  freezing 
contents — and  the  blood  fairly  crept  back  to  our  hearts. 
The  stream  ran  through  a  narrow  defile,  overhung  with 
the  thickly  tangled  vine  and  creepers,  rendering  a  cast 
of  the  line  impossible,  and  had  worked  its  way  far  under 
the  steep  banks,  making  dark  watery  caverns,  where  the 
great  fish  could  lie  in  wait  for  their  prey.  We  removed 
the  upper  joint  of  our  fly-rod,  which  was  heavy  and 
strong,  and  leaving  the  line  through  the  last  ring  of  the 
second  joint,  we  put  on  a  bait  next  to  the  fly  in  beauty 
and  effect,  the  minnow.  The  water  was  freezing  cold — 
the  closely  entwined  boughs  and  leaves  shut  out  the  heav- 
ens above,  and  we  were  alone  in  the  shadowy  darkness 
with  the  tenants  of  the  deep.  The  herring  frequented 
the  brook,  and  pursued  by  the  large  trout,  darted  in 
shoals  between  our  feet.  It  is  always  a  good  sign  when 
the  herring  are  running,  and  we  had  excellent  luck. 

There  are  several  ways  of  putting  on  a  minnow,  and 
if  a  person  from  ignorance  or  necessity  must  poach,  let 
him  poach  well.  There  is  the  gorge-hook  loaded  with 
lead,  the  snell  passed  by  the  baiting  needle  at  the  mouth 
of  the  bait  and  out  at  the  tail,  bringing  the  hoofcs  which 
are  double  at  the  mouth.  It  is  highly  recommended  by 
some  English  books  and  their  American  imitators,  but 


24  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

in  my  experience  is  more  useful,  unbaited,  for  catching 
snapping  mackerel,  young  blue-fish,  than  for  any  other 
purpose.  There  are  the  gangs  of  hooks,  consisting  of 
two  or  more  small  hooks  back  to  back,  one  of  which 
is  inserted  in  the  side  or  back  of  the  bait,  with  another 
small  one  further  up  on  the  line,  which  is  inserted  on 
the  lip  or  nose.  It  answers  well  for  some  kinds  of  fishing, 
and  for  large  bait,  but  does  not  work  well  with  small 
fish.  The  bait  is  not  bent  sufficiently,  and  does  not  spin 
readily. 

Then  there  is  the  old-fashioned  large  single  hook, 
thrust  throiigh  the  mouth,  down  the  fleshy  part  of  the 
back  and  out  at  the  side,  or  out  at  the  gills  and  back 
through  the  mouth  into  the  side.  The  objection  is  that 
bait  is  apt  to  work  down  on  the  bend  of  the  hook,  or 
the  trout  is  apt  to  take  off  the  tail  of  the  bait  without 
being  hooked. 

The  other,  and  I  think  the  best  plan  of  baiting  with 
dead  bait,  is  the  same  as  the  last,  with  the  addition  of  a 
small  hook  to  thrust  through  the  nose,  that  tends  to 
retain  the  fish  in  its  place,  and  allow  the  hook  to  be  car- 
ried down  further  toward  the  tail,  and  still  make  the  bait 
spin  well.  Minnow  is  never  properly  baited,  unless  it 
spins  freely  with  every  motion  of  the  rod,  and  it  must 
ever  be  kept  moving.  Of  course  the  line  must  be  armed 
with  the  swivel-trace,  and  in  baiting  with  dead  minnow 
a  Limerick  hook  should  be  used,  under  any  other  circum- 
stances never. 

The  cl^ad  minnow  is  preferable  for  rapid  water.  In 
ponds  the  minnow  should  be  alive,  in  which  case  the 
hook  is  to  be  inserted  in  front  of  the  dorsal  fin,  and  the 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  25 

point  may  be  left  under  the  skin,  or  exposed,  as  the 
poacher  pleases ;  I  prefer  it  covered.  It  should  not 
penetrate  the  flesh. 

In  the  Marshpee  I  was  using  a  single  hook,  keeping 
the  bait  well  ahead  of  me,  and  creeping  cautiously  in 
the  freezing  water,  watching  the  tiny  float  as  it  danced 
its  merry  course  along,  now  borne  swiftly  over  the  rip- 
pling current,  anon  caught  in  an  eddy  and  returning  on 
its  track,  and  then  again  resting  motionless  in  some  dark 
and  quiet  pool.  It  was  scarcely  visible  beneath  the  densa 
shadows,  and  once  in  a  while  it  would  disappear  from  my 
straining  sight ;  then  followed  a  sharp  blow  with  my  rod, 
a  fierce  tug,  a  short  fight  between  fear,  despair  and  cun- 
ning on  the  one  side,  and  strength,  energy  and  judgment 
on  the  other.  The  prey  once  hooked,  and  skill  there 
was  not ;  it  was  a  mere  contention  of  two  brute  forces, 
in  which  the  weaker  went  to  the  basket.  An  exhibition 
of  skill  or  tenderness  would  have  resulted  in  an  entangle- 
ment round  the  nearest  root,  and  the  loss  of  fish,  leader 
and  hook.  Still,  there  was  excitement ;  the  situation 
was  romantic,  the  narrow  gorge,  the  deep  and  rapid 
stream,  the  closely  matted  trees  and  vines,  the  ever- 
changing  surface  of  the  current,  which  adds  beauty  to 
the  tamest  brook,  all  combined  to  lend  enchantment 
to  the  scene.  The  fish  were  large  and  vigorous,  fresh 
run  from  the  sea,  where  they  had,  the  Winter  long, 
been  a  terror  to  the  small  fry,  and  early  death  to 
juicy  and  unsuspicious  shell-fish.  They  fought  fiercely 
for  life  and  liberty,  their  homes  and  their  household 
gods,  and,  alas !  two  often  successfully.  The  risk  of 
their  escape  added  to  the  interest  of  the  occasion,  and 

2 


26  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

the  number  of  herring  darting  past  gave  continual 
promise  of  the  presence  of  their  arch  enemy,  the  trout. 

I  had  half-filled  my  basket,  and  had  met  with  wonder- 
ful escapes  and  terrible  heart-rending  losses,  mingled 
with  exhilarating  successes.  I  had  made  about  half  the 
distance,  as  well  as  we  judged,  and  felt  proud  and  happy 
as  no  king  upon  his  throne  ever  did  or  will.  My  rod, 
though  a  fly-rod,  was  whipped  every  few  inches  with  silk, 
and  thus  strengthened  had  stood  the  unequal  conflict 
admirably.  Still  hoping  for  better  things — who  will  not 
hope  for  the  impossible  ? — I  strode  on.  Below  me  the 
current  made  a  sudden  turn  at  a  bend  in  the  stream,  and 
eddied  swiftly  under  the  overhanging  bank.  The  brook 
almost  disappeared  in  what  was  evidently  a  vast  cavern 
deep  in  the  bowels  of  that  bank.  In  such  watery  palaces, 
amid  the  worn  rocks,  the  tangled  roots,  the  undulating 
moss  and  weeds,  fierce -eyed,  monstrous  trout  delight  to 
dwell.  In  such  fortresses  they  await  unwary  travellers, 
and  dark  deeds  are  clone  in  the  congenial  darkness — 
outrage,  riots  and  murder  stalk  boldly  about.  The 
migratory  herring,  harmless  and  unsuspicious,  peers 
in  and  starts  affrighted  back,  then  peers  again,  at  last 
ventures  forward,  and  then,  compelled  by  instinct  to 
ascend,  tries  to  dart  hastily  by ;  there  is  a  sudden  rush, 
a  frantic  struggle,  a  piteous  look  entreating  mercy  of 
pitiless  hearts ;  for  an  instant  the  water  is  dyed  with 
blood  and  then  flows  on,  washing  all  trace  of  the  deed 
away. 

I  approach  the  den  carefully,  the  feather-like  float 
dancing  merrily  far  ahead  over  the  rippling  tide,  and  as 
the  line  is  paid  out,  swaying  from  side  to  side,  close  in 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  27 

front  of  the  roots  that  fringe  the  bank,  still  not  a  sign  ; 
a  step  forward — the  water  carries  it  under  the  bank  out 
of  sight.  I  stand  still,  expectant ;  nothing  yet ;  I  creep 
cautiously  to  the  very  bank,  and  thrust  my  rod  in  the 
water,  aye,  under  the  bank  its  full  length.  "What's  that ! 
Ah !  what  a  tug !  I  have  him,  the  monster,  the  Giant 
Despair  of  the  wayfaring  herring.  How  he  pulls !  I 
must  have  him  out  of  his  retreat ;  it  is  a  great  risk  but 
my  only  chance.  I  strain  my  rod,  my  line,  almost  my 
arms,  to  the  utmost ;  he  comes,  disdainful  of  surreptitious 
advantages,  relying  on  his  great  strength ;  he  has  not 
taken  protection  of  weed  or  stump.  JSTow,  my  boy, 
do  your  utmost ;  yes,  leap  from  the  water,  dart  down 
with  the  current ;  I  must  give  to  you  a  little ;  no  line 
can  stand  that  strain ;  but  you  will  never  reach  your 
lair  again.  Turn  about,  head  up  stream,  that  is  what  I 
want ;  there  is  a  sandy  bank  above  us,  can  I  but  reach 
it  and  land  you  there.  Ah  !  you  perceive  the  danger  or 
have  changed  your  mind  ;  how  you  fly  down  stream 
with  the  slackened  line  hissing  through  the  water  behind 
you.  "Well,  go,  you  will  soon  turn  again.  Already, 
beautiful,  you  have  passed  the  bank  ;  now,  rod,  be  true ; 
line,  do  your  duty.  The  pliant  ash  bends,  the  upper 
joint  has  passed  below  the  but  in  a  wide  hoop.  He 
comes,  his  head  is  up  ;  if  I  can  but  keep  it  out  of  water  ! 
he  dashes  the  foaming  waves  with  his  strong  tail ;  one 
more  effort ;  bend  rod,  but  do  not  break ;  he  is  out  of 
water  ;  I  have  him.  He  is  dancing  on  the  yellow  sand 
his  last  dance  in  mortal  form  ;  his  changing  hues  glancing 
in  the  mild  light,  his  fierce  mouth  gasping,  his  bright 
sides  befouled  with  sand  and  dust,  his  glittering  scales 


28  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

torn  off  by  the  sharp  stones.  His  efforts  grow  fainter, 
the  flashing  eye  dims,  a  few  convulsive  throes  and  he  is 
quiet ;  the  grim  hand  of  death  has  pressed  upon  him. 

He  is  indeed  the  prince  of  monsters,  the  paragon  of 
giants ;  so  thick,  so  deep,  with  so  small  a  head  for  so 
large  a  body ;  such  brilliant  hues :  the  fins  so  red,  the 
blue  and  carmine  spots  so  numerous  and  delicate.  I 
wash  him  off  and  stand  gazing  at  him  in  my  hand 
regardless  of  further  sport.  I  have  captured  the  king, 
and  care  not  to  follow  his  subalterns.  I  lay  him  gently 
in  my  basket ;  he  will  not  lie  at  full  length.  I  cover 
him  with  moss,  filling  the  little  room  left,  and  forcing 
my  way  through  the  overhanging  bushes,  and,  reaching 
the  broad  light  of  day,  proudly  await  the  arrival  of  my 
companion.  Then  the  moss  is  carefully  removed,  and 
the  beauties  of  my  darling  are  unveiled,  and  flash  and 
gleam  in  the  sunlight. 

There  are  several  ways  of  landing  a  trout,  but  not  all 
equally  sportsmanlike.  Large  trout  may  be  gaffed, 
small  ones  landed  in  a  net,  and  where  neither  of  these 
means  is  at  hand,  they  must  be  dragged  out  of  water,  or 
floated  up  among  the  bushes,  according  to  the  taste  of 
the  angler  and  the  strength  of  his  tackle. 

A  tyro  was  once  fishing  on  the  same  boat  with  me, 
using  bait,  when  he  struck  his  first  trout.  One  can 
imagine  how  entirely  misspent  had  been  his  previous 
existence,  when  it  is  said  he  had  never  taken  a  trout, 
no,  nor  any  other  fish  before.  It  was  not  a  large  fish  ; 
such  luck  rarely  falls  to  the  share  of  the  beginner,  and 
in  spite  of  what  elderly  gentlemen  may  say  to  the  con- 
trary, an  ignorant  countryman,  with  his  sapling  rod 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  29 

and  coarse  tackle,  never  takes  the  largest  fish  nor  the 
greatest  in  quantity.  Were  it  otherwise,  sportsmen  had 
better  turn  louts,  and  tackle  makers  take  to  cutting 
straight  saplings  in  the  woods.  My  companion,  never- 
theless, was  not  a  little  surprised  at  the  vigorous  rushes 
the  trout  made  to  escape,  but  his  line  being  strong  and 
rod  stiff,  he  steadily  reeled  him  in.  Great  was  the 
excitement ;  his  whole  mind  was  devoted  to  shortening 
the  line,  regardless  of  what  was  to  be  done  next.  We 
had  a  darkey  named  Joe  with  us  to  row  the  boat  and 
land  the  tish,  and  our  luck  having  been  bad  during 
the  morning,  he  was  delighted  at  this  turn  of  affairs,  and 
ready,  net  in  hand,  to  do  his  duty.  The  fish  was  being 
reeled  up,  till  but  a  few  feet  of  the  line  remained  below 
the  top,  when,  with  a  shout  of  "  land,  Joe,  land  him," 
my  companion  suddenly  lifted  up  his  rod,  carrying  the 
trout  far  above  our  heads.  There  it  dangled,  swaying 
to  and  fro,  bouncing  and  jumping,  while  the  agonized 
fisherman  besought  the  darkey  to  land  him,  and  the 
latter,  reaching  up  as  far  as  he  could  with  the  net,  his 
eyes  starting  out  of  his  head  with  wonder  at  this  novel 
mode  of  proceeding,  came  far  short  of  his  object.  Never 
was  seen  such  a  sight ;  the  hopeless  despair  of  my  friend, 
the  eagerness  of  the  darkey,  who  fairly  strove  to  climb 
the  rod  as  the  fish  danced  about  far  out  of  reach.  What 
was  to  done  ?  The  line  would  not  render,  the  rod  was 
so  long  we  could  not  reach  the  tip  in  the  boat ;  and  the 
only  horrible  alternative  appeared  to  be  my  friend's 
losing  his  first  fish.  The  latter,  however,  by  this  remark- 
able course  of  treatment,  had  grown  peaceable,  and 
when  he  was  dropped  back  into  the  water,  made  but 


30  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

feeble  efforts,  while  my  companion,  as  quietly  as  he 
could,  worked  out  his  line  till  he  could  land  him  like  a 
Christian.  Great  were  the  rejoicings  when  the  prize 
earned  with  so  much  anxiety  was  secured.  That  is  the 
way  not  to  land  a  trout. 

One  afternoon  of  a  very  boisterous  day,  I  struck  a  large 
fish  at  the  deep  hole  in  the  centre  of  Phillipse's  Pond,  on 
Long  Island.  He  came  out  fiercely,  and  taking  my  fly 
as  he  went  down,  darted  at  once  for  the  bottom,  which  is 
absolutely  covered  with  long,  thick  weeds.  The  moment 
he  found  he  was  struck,  he  took  refuge  among  them,  and 
tangled  himself  up  so  effectually  that  I  could  not  feel 
him,  and  supposed  he  had  escaped.  By  carefully  exert- 
ing sufficient  force,  however,  the  weeds  were  loosened 
from  the  bottom,  and  the  electric  thrill  of  his  renewed 
motion  was  again  perceptible.  He  was  allowed  to  draw 
the  line  through  the  weeds  and  play  below  them,  as  by 
so  doing  they  would  give  a  little,  while  if  confined  in 
them  he  would  have  a  leverage  against  them,  and  could, 
with  one  vigorous  twist,  tear  out  the  hook.  When  he 
was  somewhat  exhausted,  the  question  as  to  the  better 
mode  of  landing  him  arose.  The  wind  was  blowing  so 
hard  as  to  raise  quite  a  sea,  which  washed  the  weeds 
before  it  in  spite  of  any  strain  that  could  be  exerted  by 
the  rod,  and  drifted  the  boat  as  well,  rendering  the  latter 
almost  unmanageable,  while  the  fish  was  still  so  vigorous 
as  to  threaten  at  every  moment  to  escape.  I  besought 
the  boatman,  who  was  an  old  hand  and  thoroughly  up 
to  his  business,  to  drop  the  boat  down  to  the  weeds  and 
let  me  try  and  land  my  fish  with  one  hand  while  holding 
the  rod  with  the  other.  He  knew  the  dangers  of  such  a 


THE    AMERICAN    TROtT.  31 

course,  arid  insisted  upon  rowing  slowly  and  carefully 
for  shore  at  a  shallow  place  sheltered  from  the  wind, 
although  I  greatly  feared  the  hook  would  tear  out  or  the 
rod  snap  under  the  strain  of  towing  both  weeds  and 
fish  ;  once  near  shore,  he  deliberately  forced  an  oar  into 
the  mud  and  made  the  boat  fast  to  it,  and  then  taking 
up  the  net,  watched  for  a  favorable  chance.  He  waited 
for  some  time,  carefully  putting  the  weeds  aside,  until  a 
gleaming  line  of  silver  glanced  for  a  moment  beneath 
the  water,  when  darting  the  net  down,  he  as  suddenly 
brought  it  up,  revealing  within  its  folds  the  glorious 
colors  of  a  splendid  trout.  That  was  the  way  to  land  a 
trout  under  difficulties,  although  I  still  think  I  could 
have  done  it  successfully  by  myself. 

Generally,  the  utmost  delicacy  should  be  shown  in 
killing  a  fish,  but  there  are  times  when  force  must  be 
exerted.  If  the  fish  is  making  for  a  stump,  or  even 
weeds,  he  must  be  stopped  at  any  reasonable  risk  of  the 
rod's  breaking  or  the  fly's  tearing  out.  A  stump  is  the 
most  dangerous  ;  one  turn  round  that,  and  he  is  off,  leav- 
ing your  flies  fast  probably  in  a  most  inconvenient  place 
and  many  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  water.  Bu1 
remember  the  oft-repeated  maxim  of  a  friend  of  the 
writer's,  who  has  been  with  him  many  a  joyous  fishing 
day,  that  "  One  trout  hooked  is  worth  a  dozen  not 
hooked."  Small  trout  are  more  apt  to  escape  than  large 
ones,  because  the  skin  round  the  mouth  of  the  latter  is 
tougher.  With  either,  however,  there  is  risk  enough  ; 
the  hook  is  small,  and  often  takes  but  a  slight  hold  ;  the 
gut  is  delicate,  and  frequently  half  worn  through  by 
continual  casting. 


32  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

Fish  are,  in  a  majority  of  instances,  hooked  in  the 
corner  of  the  upper  jaw,  where  there  is  but  a  thin  skin 
to  hold  them  ;  by  long-continued  struggle,  the  hole  wears 
larger,  and  finally,  to  the  agony  of  the  fisherman,  the 
hook  slips  out. 

There  are  occasions  when  force  must  be  exerted,  and 
then  good  tackle  and  a  well-made  rod  will  repay  the  cost. 
At  dusk  one  night  I  cautiously  approached  the  edge  of  a 
newly-made  pond  that  was  as  full  of  stumps  as  of  fish, 
both  being  about  the  extreme  limit,  and  casting  into  the 
clear  water,  struck  a  fine  fish  of  three-quarters  of  a 
pound.  Not  one  minute's  grace  did  he  receive,  but  I 
lugged  and  he  fought,  and  after  a  general  turmoil  I  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  him  to  land,  in  spite  of  w^eeds  and 
stumps  and  twigs,  which  he  did  his  best  to  reach.  The 
same  was  done  with  seven  fish  after  a  loss  of  only  three 
flies,  and  with  a  rod  that  weighed  but  eight  ounces. 

A  rod  is  not  so  apt  to  break  from  a  fair  strain  as  from 
a  short  twist ;  of  course,  if  you  strike  a  large  fish  as  you 
raise  to  cast,  or  catch  in  the  bushes  behind  you  when 
your  line  is  extended,  any  rod  may  break.  This,  how- 
ever, rarely  happens,  and  you  are  as  likely  to  break  the 
tip  by  trying  to  pull  the  line  through  the  rings  with  your 
hand,  or  by  lifting  a  small  trout  out  of  water  and  swinging 
it  in  past  you,  as  in  any  other  way.  In  drawing  a  fish  to 
shore  when  you  have  no  landing  net,  step  back  and 
bring  the  strain  evenly  on  your  rod,  and  it  will  rarely  give 
way.  If  you  find  the  fish  takes  down  the  current  and 
you  are  unable  to  hold  him,  follow  him  if  you  can,  and 
if  not,  point  your  rod  toward  him  and  bring  the  strain  on 
the  line.  The  hook  may  tear  out,  or  the  gut  may  breal^ 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  33 

or  even  the  line  may  be  lost,  but  you  will  save  your  rod, 
while  otherwise  you  would  probably  lose  both. 

In  landing  a  fish,  wait  till  he  is  pretty  well  exhausted, 
bring  his  mouth  above  water  and  keep  it  there  till  he  is 
drawn  into  the  net,  and  warn  your  assistant  to  remove 
the  net  at  once  if  he  gets  his  head  down.  By  diving 
after  him  with  the  net,  the  assistant  would  certainly  not 
catch  the  fish  and  might  tangle  one  of  your  other  flies. 
The  fish  should  be  led  into  the  net,  and  the  latter  kept 
as  still  as  possible  ;  he  knows  as  well  as  you  do  what  it  is 
for,  and  if  his  attention  is  drawn  to  it,  will  dart  off  as 
madly  as  ever. 

There  are  occasions  and  situations  where  a  fly  cannot 
be  used,  and  a  minnow — called  down  East,  from  the  Indian 
name  mummy chog,  a  mummy — cannot  be  obtained.  In 
such  cases  it  becomes  necessary  to  fall  back  upon  first 
principles.  A  grasshopper,  twitched  along  the  surface  of 
the  wate/  in  a  way  called  skittering,  is  an  effective  bait, 
although  an  imitation  grasshopper,  as  well  as  an  imita- 
tion minnow,  does  not  answer  and  will  not  deceive  trout. 
Salmon  and  trout  roe  are  used,  and  it  is  said,  contrary  to 
the  writer's  experience,  with  great  success.  Gentles, 
which  are  grubs  hatched  in  meat  that  has  been  fly- 
blown, are  a  favorite  bait  in  Europe ;  but,  in  spite  of 
their  beautiful  name,  are  horrible  objects  and  not  in 
vogue  with  us.  Caddies,  or  the  larvae  of  the  Phry- 
ganidoB  in  their  cases,  are  also  in  use  there,  but  not 
here.  We  must,  therefore,  have  recourse  to  the  angle- 
worm. 

The  finest  worms  are  to  be  found  in  tanyards ;  they 
should  be  placed  on  the  top  of  damp  moss,  left  for  a 

2* 


34  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

night  or  two  to  work  themselves  clean,  and  then  placed 
in  other  moss  sprinkled  with  milk.  They  become  strong, 
light  colored  and  lively,  and  should  be  threaded  on  a  fine 
hook  by  passing  the  point  in  at  the  head  of  the  worm 
and  out  half-way  down  the  side ;  then  in,  half  up  the 
side  of  another,  and  forced  nearly  to  the  head.  Worms, 
if  cast  as  in  fly-fishing,  are  very  attractive,  and  will  fre- 
quently kill  an  immense  number  of  fish.  There  is  much 
skill  in  casting  so  as  not  to  tear  off  the  bait,  and  yet  to 
cover  an  extent  of  water 

In  rapid  streams,  whether  with  bait  or  fly,  always  fish 
down  stream ;  there  is  less  noise,  the  line  is  kept  taught, 
the  fly  looks  more  natural,  and  unless  the  wind  is  strong 
against  you,  it  will  be  much  easier  and  pleasanter  fish- 
ing. Move  the  bait  continually ;  keep  it  in  motion 
under  all  circumstances ;  this  is  the  great  secret  of  bait- 
fishing. 

I  have  also  heard  of  shrimp  preserved  in»  whisky 
being  used,  and  think  they  might  answer  for  fish  that 
have  just  run  from  the  salt  water;  but  as  frequent 
experiment  with  the  live  shrimp  has  proved  their  inferi- 
ority to  minnow,  I  have  little  faith  in  them. 

The  trout  is  admitted  to  be  the  most  beautiful  of  all  our 
fish  ;  not  so  large  nor  powerful  as  the  salmon,  he  is  much 
more  numerous,  abounding  in  all  the  brooks  and  rivulets 
of  our  northern  States.  He  lives  at  our  very  doors ;  in 
the  stream  that  meanders  across  yon  meadow,  where  the 
haymakers  are  now  busy  with  their  scythes,  we  have 
taken  him  in  our  early  days  ;  down  yonder  in  that  wood, 
there  is  a  brook  filled  with  bright,  lively  little  fellows; 
and  away  over  there  we  know  of  pools  where  there  are 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  35 

splendid  ones.  Who  lias  not  said  or  thought  such  words 
as  he  stood  in  the  bright  summer's  day  under  the  grate 
ful  shade  of  the  piazza  running  round  the  old  country 
house  where  he  played,  a  boy  ? 

He  does  not  make  the  nerves  thrill  and  tingle  like  the 
salmon,  he  does  not  leap  so  madly  into  the  air  nor  make 
sucli  fierce,  resolute  rushes,  he  has  not  the  silver  sides 
nor  the  great  strength ;  but  he  is  beautiful  as  the  sunset 
sky,  brave  as  bravery  itself,  and  is  our  own  home  dar- 
ling. How  he  flashes  upon  the  sight  as  he  grasps  the 
spurious  insect,  and  turns  down  with  a  quick  little  slap 
.of  the  tail !  How  he  darts  hither  and  thither  when  he 
finds  he  is  hooked !  How  persistently  he  struggles  till 
enveloped  in  the  net !  And  then  with  what  heart-rend- 
ing sighs  he  breathes  away  his  life !  Who  does  not  love 
the  lovely  trout?  With  eye  as  deep  and  melting,  skin 
as  rich  and  soft,  and  ways  as  wildly  willful  as  angelic 
woman — who  loves  not  one  loves  not  the  other.  Who 
would  not  win  the  one  cares  not  to  win  the  other. 
Strange  that  man  should  "  kill  the  thing  he  loves ;"  but 
if  to  possess  them  kills  them,  he  must  kill.  If  women, 
like  the  Ephemeras,  died  as  they  often  do  in  their  love,  we 
should  still  love  them.  Such  is  man ;  do  not  think  I 
praise  him.  No  one  kills  fish  for  the  pleasure  of  killing ; 
but  they  cannot  live  out  of  water,  nor  we  in  it,  therefore 
one  of  us  must  die.  We  would  willingly  save  them ; 
we  have  tried  to  bring  them  home  alive,  but  it  is  not  pos- 
sible. They  are  too  delicate.  With  what  a  feeling  of 
affection  we  look  upon  a  beautiful  fish  as  he  lies  upon  the 
moss,  the  sunlight  sparkling  from  his  colors  fading  in 
death!  with  how  deep  a  sadness  we  see  his  strength 


86  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

ebbing  away,  his  breath  growing  shorter,  his  struggles 
fainter!  And  when  he  has  grown  stiff  in  death,  how 
proudly  sad  we  feel  over  a  noble  career  cut  short  too 
soon! 

The  man  who  kills  to  kill,  who  is  not  satisfied  with 
reasonable  sport,  who  slays  unfairly  or  out  of  season, 
who  adds  one  wanton  pang,  that  man  receives  the  con- 
tempt of  all  good  sportsmen  and  deserves  the  felon's 
doom.  Of  such  there  are  but  few. 

We  seek  this,  our  favorite  fish,  in  early  Spring,  when, 
the  ice  has  just  melted,  and  the  cold  winds  remind  one 
forcibly  of  bleak  December,  and  when  we  find  him  in 
the  salt  water  streams,  especially  of  Long  Island  and 
Cape  Cod ;  but  we  love  most  to  follow  him  in  the  early 
Summer,  along  the  merry  streams  of  old  Orange,  or  the 
mountain  brooks  of  Sullivan  County.  Where  the  air  is 
full  of  gladness,  and  the  trees  are  heavy  with  foliage — 
where  the  birds  are  singing  upon  every  bough,  and  the 
grass  is  redolent  of  violets  and  early  flowers.  There  we 
wade  the  cold  brooks,  the  leafy  branches  bowing  us  a 
welcome  as  we  pass — the  water  rippling  over  the  hidden 
rocks,  and  telling  us,  in  its  wayward  way,  of  the  fine  fish 
it  carries  in  its  bosom.  With  creel  upon  our  shoulder  and 
rod  in  hand,  we  reck  not  of  the  hours,  and  only  when 
the  sinking  sun  warns  of  the  approaching  darkness,  do 
we  seek,  with  sharpened  appetite,  the  hospitable  country 
inn,  and  the  comfortable  supper  that  our  prey  will  fur- 
nish forth. 

The  brooks  of  Long  Island,  especially  on  the  south- 
ern shore,  abound  with  trout.  But  they  are  few  in  com- 
parison with  the  hordes  that  once  swarmed  in  the 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  37 

streams  of  Sullivan  and  Orange  counties,  and  in  fact  all 
the  lower  tier  of  counties  in  this  State,  before  the  Erie 
Railroad  was  built,  and  opened  the  land  to  the  crowd  of 
market  men.  I  am  proud  to  say  I  have  travelled  that 
country  when  it  took  the  stage  coach  twelve  hours  to  go 
twenty-four  miles,  and  when,  if  we  were  in  a  hurry,  we 
walked,  and  sent  our  baggage  by  the  coach.  Now  you 
are  jerked  along  high  above  our  favorite  meadows, 
directly  through  our  wildest  hills,  and  often  under  our 
best  streams,  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  an  hour,  and  yet 
people  call  that  an  improvement.  As  well  might  you 
lug  a  man  out  of  bed  at  night,  drag  him  a  dozen  times 
round  his  room,  and  fling  him  back  into  bed,  and  say  he 
was  improved  by  the  operation.  ~No  one  wants  to  be 
lugged  out  of  bed,  precisely  as  no  one  wanted  to  travel 
beyond  Sullivan  County ;  the  best  shooting  and  fishing 
in  the  world  was  to  be  found  there. 

When  the  railroad  was  first  opened,  the  country  was 
literally  overrun,  and  Bashe's  Kill,  Pine  Kill,  the  Sand- 
berg,  the  Mon  Gaup  and  Callicoon,  and  even  Beaver 
Kill,  which  we  thought  were  inexhaustible,  were  fished 
out.  For  many  years  trout  had  almost  ceased  from  out 
of  the  waters,  but  the  horrible  public,  having  their 
attention  drawn  to  the  Adirondacks,  gave  it  a  little  rest, 
and  now  the  fishing  is  good. 

If  you  go  there,  stop  at  George  Durrance's,  in  "Wurts- 
borough,  and  if  he  boasts  of  fishing,  as  he  will,  ask  him 
whether  he  remembers  going  to  the  Sandberg  one  day, 
many  years  ago,  to  show  a  Yorker  how  to  catch  trout. 

It  was  a  bright  sunshiny  day,  and  as  we  drove  up  to  the 
edge  of  the  bank,  above  a  clear,  rapid,  sparkling  stream,  I 


38  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

saw  a  large  trout  leap  heavily  out  of  water,  where  the  cur- 
rent swept  with  a  swirl  past  a  high  rock.  As  I  rigged  up 
my  flies,  George  borrowed  my  knife  to  cut  a  pole,  as  he  did 
not  have  much  faith  in  "  them  things,"  and  while  he  was 
gone,  I  crept  cautiously  up  behind  the  rock,  and  cast 
over  the  further  projecting  point.  I  could  not  see  my 
flies  alight,  but  heard  a  splash,  and  striking  felt  I  had  a 
splendid  fish.  He  fought  bravely,  but  by  keeping  him 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  pool,  the  lower  end  by  the  rock, 
was  not  disturbed.  After  some  trouble,  I  landed  him, 
having  no  net.  Then  approaching  the  rock  with  the 
same  caution,  the  performance  was  repeated,  only  this 
time  my  rod  w^s  broken  in  endeavoring  to  land  the  fish, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  find  George  and  obtain  my 
knife. 

I  discovered  him  under  the  bushes  on  the  bank,  in  a 
miserable  state — it  was  oppressively  hot — his  rod  was  a 
long  sapling,  and  naturally  heavy — the  sky  and  water 
were  clear,  and  the  fish  would  not  touch  the  worm, 
which  we  could  see  from  where  he  sat.  He  had  only 
taken  two  miserable  little  fish.  He  did  no  better  all 
day,  and  while  I  rose  and  killed  fish  after  fish,  he  did 
not  take  another  one.  "When  afternoon  came,  and  he 
impatiently  urged  me  away,  my  basket  was  so  full  it 
broke  down,  and  he  had  his  two  fish.  On  reaching  his 
house,  the  boys  spread  our  respective  takes  out  on  a 
board,  and  to  George's  deep  chagrin  exhibited  them  to 
the  entire  village.  He  has  not  taught  a  "  Yorker"  how 
to  catch  trout  since. 

So  much  for  your  countryman,  with  his  bed-cord  for 
line  and  stick  for  pole,  and  yet  George  was  admitted  to 


THE    AMERICAN    TROUT.  39 

be  the  best  fisherman  in  that  neighborhood.  A  person 
residing  near  a  stream,  and  having  fished  it  from  infancy, 
and  acquainted  with  its  every  pool,  has  an  immense 
advantage  over  a  stranger ;  but  there  was  only  one  coun- 
tryman ever  beat  me  trout-fishing,  and  he,  after  taking 
me  to  the  stream,  slipped  off  and  waded  it  down  ahead 
of  me. 

All  the  streams  that,  taking  their  rise  in  or  near  this 
State,  flow  into  the  Delaware  or  Susquehanna,  are  filled 
with  trout;  the  Tobyhanna,  the  Bushkill,  Broadhead's 
Creek  and  a  thousand  others,  that  the  Erie  and  Lacka- 
wanna  railroads  now  make  easy  of  access.  While  Hamil- 
ton County,  Essex,  the  region  of  the  Adirondacks,  Clinton 
County  with  its  Chateaugay  and  Chazy  Lakes,  and  the 
Saranac  River,  and  Franklin  County  with  its  innumera- 
ble ponds,  offer  all  the  sport  that  the  heart  of  man  can 
desire.  All  the  streams  of  New  England,  especially  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  White  Mountains,  are  filled 
with  small  trout ;  while  the  State  of  Maine,  in  Moose- 
head  Lake,  the  Kennebec,  and  its  other  fine  rivers  and 
lakes,  affords  the  finest  brook  trout-fishing  in  the  world. 

The  angler  may,  therefore,  seek  his  darling  close  to 
his  own  summer-house,  or  may  drop  in  at  any  of  the 
many  well  kept  taverns  on  the  south  side  of  Long 
Island,  where  he  will  find  every  comfort  and  most  of 
the  luxuries  of  the  day,  will  meet  other  enthusiastic 
fishermen,  who  will  relate  varied  and  interesting  expe- 
riences, and  exchange  views  and  fancies  with  him, 
and  will  prove  themselves,  if  real  fishermen,  the  most 
obliging  and  unselfish  gentlemen  in  the  world  ;  or  he 
may  seek  the  lonely  hotel  at  Lake  Pleasant  or  Moose- 


4:0  THE    AMERICAN    TROUT. 

head  Lake,  where  he  will  still  find  comfort  in  a  rougher 
way,  and  wonderful  good  sport ;  or  he  may  boldly  strike 
out  into  the  trackless  woods,  commit  himself  to  his  birch 
canoe  and  trusty  guide,  and  then,  if  he  be  made  of  the 
right  stuff,  I  promise  him  such  happiness  as  he  will  never 
forget — merry  innocent  days  and  dreamless  nights, 
health  in  every  limb,  and  contentment  in  his  mind. 

There  is  no  fish  more  difficult  to  catch,  nor  that  gives 
the  true  angler  more  genuine  sport  than  the  trout.  His 
capture  requires  the  nicest  tackle,  the  greatest  skill,  the 
most  complete  self-command,  the  highest  qualities  of 
mind  and  body.  The  arm  must  be  strong  that  wields 
the  rod ;  the  eye  true  that  sees  the  rise ;  the  wrist  quick 
that  strikes  at  the  instant;  the  judgment  good,  that  selects 
the  best  spot,  the  most  suitable  fly,  and  knows  just  how 
to  kill  the  fish.  A  fine  temper  is  required  to  bear  up 
against  the  loss  of  a  noble  fish,  and  patient  perseverance 
to  conquer  ill  luck. 

Hence  it  is  that  the  fisherman  is  so  proud  of  his  basket 
of  a  dozen  half-pound  trout,  he  feels  that  any  one  more 
awkward  or  less  resolute  could  not  have  done  so  well. 
He  feels  conscious  that  he  does  not  owe  his  success  to 
mere  luck,  but  has  deserved  the  glory.  He  feels  that 
he  has  elevated  himself  by  the  very  effort.  Do  not  sup- 
pose I  mean  that  there  is  no  skill  in  other  fishing ; 
there  is  in  all,  even  in  catching  a  minnow  for  bait,  but 
most  of  all  in  trout-fishing. 


SEA    TROUT. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

SEA    TROUT. 

Salmo  Trutta  Marina — Salmon  Trout —  White  Trout. 

This  fish  corresponds  precisely  with  the  description 
given  by  Dr.  De  Kay  of  the  Speckled  Trout,  Salmo  Fon- 
tinalisj  except  in  the  following  particulars : 

I  can  find  no  teeth  in  the  vomer  or  central  part  of  the 
roof  of  the  mouth  any  more  than  I  can  find  them  on  the 
common  brook  trout,  and  I  have  examined  great  numbers 
of  the  latter  for  the  purpose.  The  pectorals  are  nearly  a 
transparent  white,  slightly  tinged  with  red  at  the  origin 
of  the  rays,  except  that  the  second  ray  is  darkish.  The 
first  ray  of  the  ventrals  is  yellow,  the  second  dark,  the 
third  and  the  others  orange  fading  into  white  ;  the  origin 
of  the  ventrals  is  directly  under  that  of  the  first  dorsal. 
The  first  ray  of  the  anal  fin  is  orange,  the  second  and 
others  dark  green,  growing  lighter  toward  the  tail,  the 
origin  of  the  second  and  third  rays  being  yellowish. 
The  scales  are  very  small,  imbedded  in  the  skin,  and 
there  are  neither  scales  nor  defined  spots  on  the  gill- 
covers.  The  fin-rays  are  as  follows  : 

Br.  12 ;  D.  13  ;  P.  13  ;  V.  8  ;  A.  10  ;  C.  19$. 

The  branchial  rays  seem  to  differ  sometimes,  the  same 
fish  having  eleven  on  one  side  and  twelve  on  the  other, 
and  the  highest  one  is  a  half  ray  or  small  plate.  The 


42  SEA    TROUT. 

anal,  properly  speaking,  has  eleven  rays,  but  the  first  is 
so  delicate  and  so  lost  in  the  fleshy  part  of  the  fin,  that 
it  is  hardly  distinguishable. 

The  coloring  of  these  fish  differs  greatly  from  that  of 
the  common  trout,  but  it  is  universally  conceded  that 
color  is  no  test  or  distinction  of  species.  When  fresh 
run  from  the  sea,  and  when  still  inhabiting  the  salt 
water,  they  are  gloriously  brilliant ;  their  backs  a  liquid 
bluish  green,  the  under  part  flashing  like  molten  silver. 
The  spots  and  scarlet  specks  on  their  sparkling  sides  are 
of  a  purer  tone,  and  the  lower  fins  more  slender  and 
delicate. 

They  are  found  in  the  bays  of  Prince  Edward's  Island, 
in  the  harbors  of  New  Brunswick,  and  in  all  the  gulf 
and  river  of  St.  Lawrence  and  its  lower  tributaries.  In 
Frank  Forrester's  "  Fish  and  Fishing,"  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Perley,  the  British  Commissioner  of  Fisheries,  is  quoted, 
page  123,  in  which  he  says  these  fish  do  not  ascend  into 
purely  fresh  water.  In  this  I  am  reluctantly,  out  of 
respect  to  his  great  experience  as  a  fisherman  and  high 
standing  in  scientific  attainments,  compelled  to  differ 
from  him.  I  have  unquestionably  taken  these  fish  far 
above  tide  water,  and  have  the  best  authority  for  saying 
that  usually,  if  not  invariably,  the  larger  trout  at  least 
ascend  to  the  head-waters  of  the  mountain  streams  to 
spawn.  I  venture  to  say  that  no  large  sea  trout  are 
taken  in  the  tide  water  after  the  last,  and  rarely  after 
the  first  of  August.  It  is  probable  that  he  has  been 
misled  by  the  fact  that  there  are  trout  in  the  same 
streams  that  never  descend  to  the  sea,  and  there  is  a 
marked  difference  in  color  between  them  and  their 


SEA    TROUT.  43 

brethren,  although  I  believe  they  are  the  same  fish.  For 
the  correctness  of  these  views,  reference  can  be  made  to 
the  experience  of  many  authorities  that  would  be  satis- 
factory to  one  that  I  esteem  and  respect  as  much  as  I 
do  my  excellent  friend  and  brother  of  the  angle,  Mr. 
Perley.  While  mentioning  his  name,  it  will  not  be 
amiss  to  tender  him,  in  the  name  of  the  fishermen  of  the 
United  States,  our  thanks  and  grateful  acknowledgments 
for  the  invariable  kindness,  courtesy  and  good  humor 
with  which  he  has  answered  the  numerous  questions 
entailed  upon  him  by  his  mention  in  Frank  Forrester's 
"  Fish  and  Fishing,"  and  the  valuable  aid  and  advice  he 
has  furnished  the  wanderers  from  the  States  in  their 
search  for  piscatorial  happiness.  Combining  as  he  does 
the  heartiness  of  an  Englishman  with  the  sociability  of 
our  own  country,  we  are  proud  to  claim  him,  while 
he  remains  in  our  vicinity,  as  half  an  American.  But 
let  me,  at  the  same  time,  suggest  to  my  countrymen, 
that  there  is  a  limit  even  to  the  best  of  tempers,  and 
that,  although  each  one  may  only  put  a  few  questions 
and  take  up  a  little  valuable  time,  the  total  combined 
may  be  annoying,  inconvenient,  and  even  excessively 
burdensome. 

In  addition  to  the  positive  fact  of  taking  sea  trout 
above  tide  water,  it  is  to  be  remarked  as  a  habit  of  all 
trout  to  ascend  in  summer  to  the  cool  sources  of  the 
springy  brooks,  and  our  common  trout  will  invariably 
be  found,  after  the  warm  weather  is  at  its  height,  either 
in  the  rivulets  that  feed  the  ponds  where  they  dwell  in 
winter,  or  at  the  head-waters  of  tho  ponds.  The  sun's 
rays  are  so  powerful  that  they  affect  any  sheet  of  open 


44  SEA    TROUT. 

water,  especially  the  harbors  and  bays  of  the  ocean,  and 
the  fish  will  not  live  there,  but  withdraw  to  cooler 
regions.  A  remarkable  case  of  this  kind  fell  tinder  the 
writer's  observation  at  Masapequa  Pond,  which  is  uni- 
versally admitted  to  be  the  best  preserve  on  Long  Island. 
It  is  rather  small,  and  quite  shallow  except  in  the  chan- 
nel, and  being  entirely  unsheltered,  is  liable  to  become 
heated  in  hot  weather.  The  spring  had  been  remark- 
ably mild,  and  in  the  middle  of  May,  after  a  number  of 
days  that  reminded  one  of  June,  I  visited  Masapequa, 
and,  although  the  weather  was  favorable  and  a  lively 
ripple  darkened  the  water,  only  two  trout  were  killed 
in  the  entire  morning.  I  was  much  discouraged  and 
surprised,  until  happening  to  get  my  flies  caught,  I  put 
my  hand  into  the  water  and  found  it  milk-warm.  The 
explanation  was  simple,  and  I  at  once  told  the  proprietor, 
who  had  been  more  astounded  than  myself,  that  the  fish 
had  run  out  of  the  pond  into  the  brook ;  and  there,  sure 
enough,  we  shortly  discovered  them  lying  in  the  deep 
pools  in  shoals. 

If  they  cannot  retire  to  cool,  fresh,  aerated  water,  they 
will  perish,  as  happened  one  dry,  warm  season  in  a  pond 
at  Oyster  Bay,  which,  although  well  filled  with  trout, 
had  no  extensive  head-waters.  The  fish  crowded  round 
the  flume,  hardly  disturbed  by  being  touched  with  a 
stick,  remaining  motionless,  and  evidently  suffering. 
They  died  and  were  picked  up  by  scores. 

If  sea  trout  do  not  ascend  the  fresh  streams,  where  do 
they  spawn  ?  From  the  habits  of  all  the  salmon  tribe, 
we  know  they  must  have  a  current  of  pure  and  cool 
water  to  vivify  the  eggs,  and  they  certainly  cannot  find 


SEA    TROUT.  45 

this  along  the  shores  and  bays.  Their  eggs  must  be 
deposited  on  a  gravelly  bed  and  not  on  sand,  and  as  the 
bottom  of  the  salt  water,  which  is  purely  sand,  even  if 
appropriate  spawning  ground,  is  peopled  with  all  sorts, 
shapes  and  sizes  of  creeping,  crawling  and  burrowing 
things,  from  sand-worms  to  sea-eggs,  the  spawn  would 
be  utterly  destroyed  long  before  it  could  come  to  ma- 
turity. If,  in  spite  of  all  these  difficulties,  the  eggs 
should  hatch,  the  young  fry  being  entirely  helpless  for 
thirty  days,  and  little  able  to  take  care  of  themselves 
afterward,  would  be  annihilated  by  their  elder  brethren 
or  the  first  sea  fish  that  came  along.  Young  trout,  in 
their  appropriate  localities,  hide  carefully  in  little  spring 
rills  and  close  along  shore  for  months  after  they  are 
hatched,  and  not  till  well  grown  and  active  do  they 
trust  themselves  in  the  deeper  places  among  the  larger 
fish.  Nature  has  taught  them  that  the  latter  have  an 
excessive  fondness  for  them. 

Whether  sea  trout  spawn  earlier  than  brook  trout,  I 
do  not  know,  but  very  possibly  they  may,  as  in  cooler 
countries  fish  usually  spawn  earlier  than  in  warmer  ones. 
However,  in  August  the  roe  is  not  developed  to  any 
great  extent ;  no  more  so,  apparently,  than  with  us,  and, 
although  the  Canadian  Winter  sets  in  earlier  than  ours, 
trout  do  not  fear  the  cold.  The  regions  they  inhabit 
being  extremely  difficult  of  access  in  the  freezing  season, 
this  question  may  remain  some  time  unsolved. 

Whether  sea  trout  should  be  ranked  as  a  distinct 
species,  or  whether  there  are  any  different  species  of 
trout  in  America,  has  been  a  serious  question.  It  is  a 
great  misfortune  that  every  naturalist,  in  his  eager 


4:6  SEA   TROUT. 

endeavor  to  discover  new  species  and  originate  new 
names,  has  caught  at  the  slightest  distinctions  in  appear- 
ance, which  are  often  only  due  to  food  or  water,  and  has 
immediately  dubbed  the  fish  a  knight  and  endowed  him 
with  a  new  name — frequently  some  horrible  Latin  per- 
version of  his  own.  Real  distinctions  are  those  perma- 
nent ones  that  no  change  of  food  and  water  can  affect, 
nor  the  chance  influence  of  a  few  shell-fish  or  a  muddy 
bottom.  There  are  distinctions  between  these  trout  and 
brook  trout,  of  color,  comparative  size  of  different  parts 
of  the  body,  formation  of  the  head  and  fins ;  but  not 
more  so  than  one  often  meets  with  in  fishing  any  of  the 
streams  of  Long  Island  that  communicate  with  the  sea, 
or  even  in  the  different  streams  of  the  wild  woods.  The 
sea  trout  of  Canada  certainly  do  far  excel  the  ordinary 
trout  in  size,  being  taken,  with  the  fly,  weighing  nine 
pounds,  and  the  ordinary  average  being  from  three  to 
four;  but  otherwise  they  seem  to  have  no  permanent 
peculiarity  that  should  distinguish  them  from  the  com- 
mon brook  trout.  All  other  distinctions  fade  after  the 
trout  have  been  for  some  time  in  fresh  water,  and  a  late 
run  of  sea  trout  differs  far  more  from  those  which  have 
ascended  the  streams  a  month  earlier  than  the  latter 
from  the  brook  trout.  Indeed,  some  sea  trout  have 
become  domesticated  in  the  fresh  water,  and  never 
returning  to  the  sea,  have  settled  down,  although  often 
of  great  size,  into  the  ordinary  trout. 

In  Stump  Pond,  on  Long  Island,  and  the  adjacent 
waters,  are  four  different  varieties  of  trout:  the  old- 
fashioned  Stump  Pond  Trout,  with  a  black  mouth,  a 
long,  thin  body,  a  big  head,  and  a  wolfish,  hungry 


SEA    TROUT.  47 

look ;  the  Salt  "Water  Trout,  with  a  small,  sleepy  head, 
a  deep  body,  and  a  rich  coloring,  small  fins  and  red 
flesh  ;  the  Brook  Trout,  long,  narrow,  brightly  marked, 
gracefully  shaped  and  lively ;  and  a  trout  which  has 
appeared  in  a  new  pond,  scarcely  yet  completed,  with  a 
dark,  strong  coloring,  very  black  on  the  back,  a  thick, 
stout  body,  and  a  well  proportioned  head.  Any  one  can 
distinguish  these  fish  at  a  glance,  but  must  they  each 
have  a  different  name,  and  a  Latin  one  at  that  ? 

The  fresh  run  sea  trout  of  the  North  have  beautiful 
silver  sides,  almost  as  bright  as  a  salmon's,  and  in  this 
particular,  at  least,  differ  from  the  salt  water  loving- 
trout  of  Long  Island  and  Cape  Cod.  Their  heads  are 
small,  delicate,  and  exquisitely  shaped,  and  their  lower 
fins  are  small  and  almost  transparent.  The  heads  of  the 
males  are  larger,  and  the  lower  jaw  more  hooked  than 
those  of  the  female,  and  these  differences  increase  as  the 
spawning  season  advances.  The  head  of  the  female 
bears  a  comparison  to  that  of  a  modest,  refined  lady, 
while  that  of  the  male  resembles  the  big  head  and  ugly 
jaw  of  the  struggling,  quarrelling,  but  protecting  man. 
At  times  their  flesh  is  a  bright  red,  often  a  dull  yellow, 
and  rarely  whitish.  The  shape  of  their  bodies  is  grace- 
ful and  broad  across  the  back,  to  a  greater  degree  in 
both  particulars  than  the  sea  run  trout  of  Long  Island 
and  Massachusetts.  But  as  they  ascend  the  rivers,  and 
after  they  have  been  some  time  in  their  new  abode,  these 
peculiarities  diminish,  the  color  of  their  backs  turns  from 
a  beautiful  green  to  a  dull  black,  the  splendor  of  their 
silvery  sides  fades,  and  the  heavy  spots  and  roseate  tinge 
appear ;  their  translucent  fins  grow  opaque  and  strong 


48  SEA    TROUT. 

from  greater  use  in  the  swift  current ;  their  shape  even 
seems  to  alter,  and  they  are  altogether  unlovely  by  com- 
parison with  their  former  selves.  Are  they,  therefore, 
"  like  Cerberus,  three  gentlemen  at  once,"  and  entitled 
to  three  distinct  appellations,  or  are  they  simply  our 
dearly  loved  old  friends,  the  Speckled  Trout  f 

The  change  in  appearance  of  these  fish  cannot  be 
refuted  by  the  suggestion  that  the  ordinary  brook  trout 
ascend  the  rivers  and  mingle  with  those  of  the  sea,  be- 
cause the  latter  are  to  be  caught  in  every  stage,  from  the 
brilliancy  of  the  fresh  river  fish  to  the  dull  colors  of  the 
oldest  inhabitant.  And  it  will  be  noticed  that  at  the 
heads  of  the  rivers  a  bright-colored  fish  is  rarely  met  with, 
although  they  must  be,  with  few  exceptions,  all  sea  trout. 

The  best  trout  rivers  of  Canada  are  troublesome  to  reach, 
difficult  to  ascend,  and  seldom  attempted  by  any  but  the 
salmon  fisher.  To  the  latter,  the  trout,  attractive  as  he 
seems  to  us,  is  a  trial  and  a  nuisance.  Abundant  and  vora- 
cious, he  often  rushes  in  advance  of  the  lordly  salmon,  seizes 
the  fly,  and  then  discovering  his  mistake,  by  his  struggles 
disturbs  the  pool,  ruffles  the  fisherman's  temper,  and 
frightens  the  larger  game  from  its  equanimity.  He  is 
therefore  little  noticed  by  the  frequenters  of  the  head- 
waters, except  to  be  denounced,  and  his  delicate  peculi- 
arities seldom  considered  and  less  esteemed.  He  is  princi- 
pally sought  in  the  tide  water  along  the  shores,  or  from 
boats  in  the  open  bays,  but  rarely  followed  to  his  summer 
home.  The  statements,  therefore,  of  Canadian  fishermen 
with  regard  to  him  must  be  cautiously  received  and  care- 
fully weighed ;  their  experience  may  not  have  been  suf- 
ciently  extended. 


SEA    TROUT.  49 

Whatever  be  his  name,  he  is  a  beauty,  the  fairest  of 
the  children  of  the  sea.  There  are  others  of  more  varie- 
gated colors,  of  gaudier  hues,  of  more  slender  shape,  but 
the  trout  is  lord  of  all.  He  is  the  pet  of  the  true  fisher- 
man, whether  taken  by  the  name  of  Salmo  trutta  in  the 
bays  of  Canada,  weighing  fifteen  pounds,  or  as  Salmo 
fontinalis,  in  the  mountain  streams  of  Vermont,  reach- 
ing not  one  quarter  as  many  ounces.  In  Canada, 
sportsmen — and  none  others  seem  to  fish — take  the  sea 
trout  solely  with  the  fly.  In  June,  and  earlier,  they  are 
found  in  the  tide  waters,  and  there  prefer  gaudy  flies. 
The  scarlet  ibis,  or  curry-curry  of  South  America,  dressed 
as  it  is  ordinarily  done,  or  diversified  by  a  little  gold  or 
silver  tinsel  wound  round  the  body,  or  indeed  the  entire 
hook  wound  with  tinsel  alone,  is  by  many  preferred  to 
all  other  flies ;  but  the  red  hackle,  the  golden  pheasant, 
the  professor,  the  grey  drake,  and  in  fact  any  gay  fly, 
will  meet  with  approval.  A  much  admired  fly  is  made 
of  a  red  body  and  yellow  wings ;  but  the  more  sober 
colors  must  not  be  forgotten  nor  neglected,  they  are 
often  more  successful  than  their  gaudy  relations.  As 
the  season  advances,  and  the  fish  ascend  the  clear,  cool 
rivers,  especially  if  the  water  be  low  and  the  weather 
dry,  the  sober  flies  are  preferable.  Then  the  cow-dung, 
the  alder-fly,  the  turkey-brown,  the  winged  black  hackle, 
and  in  fact  all  the  ordinary  flies,  are  in  demand ;  a  fly 
invented  by  myself,  of  a  blackbird's  wing  and  a  claret 
body  and  legs,  and  called  the  early  fly,  has  often  proved 
itself  uncommonly  killing;  and  indeed  all  the  flies  usu- 
ally employed  in  other  waters  are  appropriate  for  the  sea 
trout  in  Canada. 

3 


50  SEA    TROUT. 

Neither  does  the  size  of  hook  differ  from  that  ordi- 
narily in  use ;  it  should  average  about  a  number  nine, 
with  a  few  somewhat  larger  for  rough  water.  It  is 
rarely  desirable,  on  account  of  the  enormous  size  of  the 
fish,  to  use  more  than  one  fly  at  a  time,  and  generally 
the  trout  will  soon  remove  the  difficulty  by  reducing 
them  to  that  number ;  but  at  times,  when  fish  are  shy, 
they  seem  to  be  attracted  by  seeing  several.  In  order  to 
kill  the  largest  possible  quantity,  without  any  regard  to 
humanity  or  sportsmanship,  a  heavy  fly-rod  is  desirable, 
as  much  time  is  lost  in  landing  them  with  a  delicate 
rod. 

For  many  hundred  miles  below  Quebec,  the  majestic 
St.  Lawrence  rolls  its  transparent  waters  in  a  steady 
surge  toward  the  ocean.  Forward  and  backward  heaves 
the  mighty  tide,  piling  up  the  waters  eighteen  and 
twenty  feet ;  but  the  steady  current  keeps  on  its  course 
toward  the  gulf.  Into  this  wonderful  stream,  that  can 
only  be  likened  to  an  arm  of  the  sea,  at  every  few  miles 
debouches  from  the  granite  hills  a  river,  more  or  less 
extensive  and  more  or  less  rocky  and  turbulent.  These 
rivers  rise  on  the  mountain  tops,  cold  and  clear,  and 
thunder  down  over  falls  and  rapids,  through  chasms  and 
gorges  split  in  the  eternal  rock*  till  they  leap,  tumble  or 
crawl  into  that  outlet  of  a  thousand  lakes,  the  highway 
of  the  Canadas. 

These  streams  the  salmon  and  trout  ascend,  there  to 
disport  themselves,  there  to  make  love,  prepare  their 
nests,  and  perpetuate  their  species.  The  water  is  cool, 
running  from  the  frigid  regions  of  the  north  or  supplied 
by  icy  springs,  and  the  bottom  offers  every  variety  of 


SEA    TROUT.  51 

spawning  beds.  There  is  the  stony  pool  for  the  salmon, 
the  pebbly  one  for  the  trout,  and  never  do  the  two 
spawn,  and  rarely  even  live,  in  the  same.  The  pool 
where  the  salmon  lie  is  deep  and  rapid,  with  a  bottom 
composed  of  dark  limestones  averaging  about  the  size  of 
a  bantam's  egg.  While  the  trout  hide  in  a  sluggish  pool, 
and  often  one  worn  away  by  the  water  and  hollowed 
from  a  clay  bank.  It  is  a  tradition,  but  one  by  no  means 
well  substantiated,  that  trout  never  eat  young  salmon, 
nor  salmon  young  trout.  As  trout  are  more  fond  of  their 
own  species  than  almost  any  other  delicacy,  it  is  not 
probable  they  would  be  fastidious  about  swallowing  a 
nice,  juicy  little  salmon. 

The  country  through  which  these  streams  run  is  very 
peculiar :  rough  hills  of  granite  rise  almost  perpendicu- 
larly from  the  edge  of  the  water,  many  hundred  and 
sometimes  many  thousand  feet.  Their  sides  are  bare 
and  bleak,  and  if  adorned  at  all  with  verdure,  it  is  with 
a  stunted  pine  and  spruce,  that  only  half  hides  the  white 
rock  beneath.  The  streams  wind  in  tortuous  course 
among  the  crags,  and  slowly  gain  a  high  elevation. 
These  bare,  unprofitable  hills  extend  back  from  the  north 
shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  as  far  as  the  foot  of  man  has 
penetrated,  and  only  at  long  intervals  by  the  shore  of 
some  of  the  larger  rivers,  where  forty  centuries  of  storms 
have  worn  away  and  washed  the  detritus  from  the  moun- 
tain into  some  little  bay,  have  half  civilized  beings  been 
enabled  to  build  rough  cabins  and  glean  a  scanty  sub- 
sistence. Thus  are  these  waters,  the  home  and  nursery 
of  the  trout  and  salmon,  protected  forever  by  nature 
against  the  pervading  destructiveness  of  man.  Judicious 


52  SEA    TROUT. 

laws  have  been  passed  and  will  be  enforced  by  the  Cana- 
dian government,  and  the  American  fisherman  may 
find  in  neighboring  waters  what  he  will  never  again  see 
in  his  own,  these  noble  fish  dwelling  in  abundance,  and 
protected  from  worthless,  wanton  and  unreasonable 
destruction. 

It  is  a  burning  shame,  a  foul  blot  on  the  character  of 
Americans,  and  tarnish  on  their  reputation  lor  far-sighted 
economy,  that  their  only  idea  of  the  treatment  of  the 
wild  game  of  the  woods  and  waters  seems  to  be  total 
annihilation.  "  After  me  a  desert,"  is  their  motto  ;  and 
they  never  rest  till,  by  planting  snares  and  liming 
streams,  they  have  caught  the  last  partridge  and  poi- 
soned the  last  fish.  Thus  have  they  already  destroyed 
one  of  the  most  valuable  resources  of  the  country  ;  the 
Hudson,  the  Connecticut,  the  Penobscot,  and  even  the 
Kennebec,  yield  no  more  salmon,  and  we  yearly  pay  to 
Canada  enormous  sums  for  what  we  once  had,  and  might 
still  have,  in  plenty  on  our  own  shores.  ISTot  many 
years  ago  a  person  buying  shad  on  the  Connecticut 
River  was  required  to  take  such  a  proportion  of  salmon. 
Now  that  the  head-waters  are  covered  with  tanneries  and 
saw-mills,  and  are  crossed  by  dams  without  the  simple 
expedient  of  a  flume  that  the  fish  could  ascend,  and  now 
that  early  salmon  are  worth  a  dollar  a  pound  in  ISTew 
York  market,  where  are  the  former  denizens  of  the  Con- 
necticut ? 

All  the  timber  cut  on  the  streams  would  not  pay  for 
the  damage  done  to  the  fisheries.  In  Canada  the  people 
have  discovered,  fortunately  for  them  not  too  late,  the 
importance  of  stringent  protective  laws.  The  nets  can 


SEA    TROUT.  53 

only  be  set  within  a  certain  distance,  and  cannot  extend 
across  the  entire  stream.  In  Lower  Canada  the  net  fish- 
ing terminates  on  the  first  day  of  August,  and  the  rod 
fishing  on  the  fifteenth  of  September,  and  spearing,  the 
most  cruel,  unprofitable  and  injurious  mode  of  destruc- 
tion, is  forbidden  altogether. 

About  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  below  Quebec 
the  wondrous  Saguenay  pours  its  dark  waters  and 
fierce  current  into  the  placid  bosom  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 
It  is  one  of  the  natural  wonders  of  our  still  new  and 
scarcely  explored  country.  Hills  rise  a  thousand  feet 
sheer  up,  and  its  waters  descend  a  thousand  feet  deep 
at  their  base.  The  St.  Lawrence,  at  its  mouth,  is 
only  some  thirty  feet  deep,  but  the  bottom  suddenly 
descends  at  the  entrance  to  the  Saguenay,  and  becomes 
from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  feet  in  depth.  The 
breadth  of  the  Saguenay  is  so  great  that  the  grandeur 
of  the  mountains  is  lost  to  the  eye,  and  the  scenery  is 
remarkable  more  for  ruggedness  than  beauty.  At  the 
mouth  of  this  river  was  the  first  station  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  a  little  village  called  Tadousac,  which  is 
pronounced  with  the  emphasis  on  the  last  syllable,  and  in 
that  village  stands  the  mission  church  of  the  Jesuits,  the 
oldest  in  the  country 

Close  to  Tadousac,  and  almost  adjoining  at  the  back, 
is  a  still  smaller  village  called  L'Anse  a  PEau,  and 
although  great  ships  no  longer  lie  at  Tadousac,  and  the 
houses  are  fast  falling  to  decay,  and  the  good  men  of  the 
olden  days  have  long  gone  their  last  journey,  and  the  trap- 
pers are  never  more  seen  around  the  famous  station,  and 
the  glory  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  has  departed, 


54  SEA    TROUT. 

the  trout  and  salmon  coast  along  the  rocks  and  visit  the 
inlets  as  they  did  when  priests  promenaded  the  natural 
terraces  of  Tadousac,  and  when  the  shortest  road  to  the 
Northwest  was  up  the  Saguenay  River.  The  trout  care 
not  though  the  iron  horse  has  sprung  two  great  leaps 
across  the  water  that  they  live  in,  and  know  not  that  a 
woman,  the  only  Catholic  that  can  read,  officiates  as 
high  priest  in  the  sanctum  of  the  woman-haters,  the 
mission  church  of  the  Jesuits. 

The  St.  Lawrence  abounds  with  most  delicious  food 
for  trout ;  there  are  acres  of  small  fish ;  the  sand  eels 
crowd  the  bays  yards  deep,  the  sardines,  the  mullet,  the 
capelin,  the  tommy  cods,  push  and  jostle  their  way 
along,  while  shellfish  innumerable  cover  the  sandy  bot- 
tom. Flies  swarm  on  the  water,  and  the  deep  rivers  in 
Winter  and  the  cool  streams  in  Summer  constitute  the 
paradise  of  the  salmonidce. 

Along  the  shores  of  the  tide  water,  early  in  Spring  the 
trout  and  salmon  make  their  appearance,  and  wandering 
about  pass  the  merry  days  of  May,  June  and  July  in 
feasting  and  junketing,  in  visiting  new  scenes  and  tast- 
ing every  variety  of  food,  till  instinct  warns  them  the 
waters  are  falling,  and  they  must  hasten  to  their  syl- 
van bowers  and  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  love  and  paternity. 
Then  slowly,  the  largest  first,  they  leave  the  tide  waters 
and  swarm  up  all  the  practicable  streams,  running  the 
rapids  and  steadily  advancing  to  their  pebbly  spawning 
beds,  which  kind  nature  appears  to  have  prepared  in  the 
heart  of  these  impassable  mountains  for  their  especial 
protection.  Through  all  this  season,  June,  July  and  Au- 
gust, the  fishing  is  magnificent ;  they  are  in  great 


SEA    TROUT.  55 

numbers,  and  of  immense  size ;  but  after  they  have 
once  left  the  salt  water,  the  angler  must  accompany 
them  in  their  ascent  if  he  would  continue  his  sport,  and 
by  day  struggle  in  his  canoe  against  the  rapids,  up  which 
he  hears  them  darting  at  night. 

While  the  fish  are  still  in  tide  water,  and  the  fisher- 
man is  fishing  from  the  rocks,  the  head  of  some  bay 
into  which  flows  a  stream  of  fresh  water,  and  the  time 
of  the  lower  half  of  the  tide,  are  both  desirable.  The 
former  as  furnishing  a  variety  of  food,  and  the  latter  as 
contracting  the  fishing  ground.  The  eddies  of  a  swift 
current,  and  the  hollows  of  a  rocky  bottom,  are  both 
affected  by  the  fish ;  although  they  are  often  found 
along  a  smooth  sandy  shore,  chasing  the  minnows,  and 
now  and  then  dashing  at  a  fly  or  sand-hopper  thrown 
off  the  land.  It  is  nothing  unusual  to  capture  a  hun- 
dred fish  in  as  few  hours  as  it  will  require  to  land  them, 
and  often  the  only  limit  to  the  number  will  be  the 
sportsman's  humanity.  They  are  a  difficult  fish  to  pre- 
serve ;  it  seems  sacrilegious  to  salt  them  ;  they  are  not 
good  pickled  in  brine,  and  smoking  is  both  injurious 
and  troublesome.  The  fisherman,  if  he  would  not  have 
them  rot  before  his  eyes,  must  put  a  bridle  on  his  eager- 
ness. 

They  run  very  large,  sometimes  above  a  dozen  pounds, 
are  often  taken  of  five  and  six,  and  frequently  a  whole 
day's  catch  will  average  three  pounds.  They  are  found 
at  the  mouth  and  along  the  shore  of  every  river  that 
empties  into  the  lower  part  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  They 
ascend  the  Saguenay,  and  are  taken  at  and  near  its 
mouth  in  great  numbers,  and  in  fact  everywhere  in  the 


56  SEA    TROUT. 

lower  St.  Lawrence  and  all  its  tributaries  they  abound. 
It  would  be  more  difficult  to  tell  where  not  to  find  them 
than  where  to  find  them.  But  the  best  trout-fishing  sea- 
son is  later,  when  they  have  followed  the  salmon  and 
retired  to  the  upper  waters  of  the  mountain  streams, 
where  they  lie  together  in  shoals,  in  the  deep  pools. 
Then  they  may  be  traced  by  the  wake  their  motion 
leaves  in  the  water ;  then  may  the  fisherman,  casting  a 
long  line  and  careful  fly,  pick  the  finest  and  go  on  fish- 
ing till  heart  and  soul  are  satisfied.  There,  amid  the 
wild  scenery,  at  the  foot  of  the  granite  hills,  by  the 
shade  of  the  stunted  spruce,  he  may  take  his  stand  upon 
some  point  of  rocks,  near  to  a  black  pool,  and  deftly 
wielding  the  slender  rod,  may  bring  to  the  net  one  after 
another  of  the  mighty  denizens  of  the  water.  But  even 
then,  if  he  would  take  the  mightiest  he  must  prove  him- 
self a  sportsman  by  keeping  out  of  sight  and  casting  far 
and  straight.  And  when  his  sport  is  terminated  by  the 
declining  day,  or  his  ample  satisfaction,  and  he  meets 
his  companions  round  the  camp-fire,  over  a  well  cooked 
supper  improved  by  a  vigorous  appetite,  he  will  exchange 
experiences  of  the  habits  of  fish  or  the  arcana  of  the 
angler's  art. 

If,  however,  he  loves  the  "  wet  sheet  and  the  flowing 
sea,"  a  nautical  anomaly,  by  the  way,  he  may  pursue 
his  prey  in  the  open  bays,  and  with  a  smart  breeze  and 
long  line,  and  gaudy  fly  dancing  from  wave  to  wave, 
have  great  sport.  Under  these  circumstances  the  fish 
are  almost  uncontrollable  and  must  be  often  followed 
with  the  boat  for  a  long  way  before  they  can  be  killed. 
It  is  gloriously  exciting,  the  bright  waters  sparkling  with 


SEA    TROUT.  57 

foam,  the  light  boat  leaping  over  the  billows,  the  sky 
magnificent  in  its  depth  of  blue,  the  fresh  breeze  cool 
and  strong  ;  and  the  fish  just  hooked,  furious,  vigorous 
and  courageous,  rushing  hither  and  thither,  plunging  to 
the  bottom  or  springing  high  out  of  water.  Then  the 
exciting  chase  as  he  takes  off  fortunately  downwind, 
and  exhausts  all  but  the  few  last  turns  of  line  on  the  reel 
till  it  becomes  a  question  of  speed  between  him  and  the 
boat,  and  at  last  his  final  surrender  and  capture.  Truly 
is  it  magnificent. 

Riviere  du  Loup,  a  little  Canadian  village  situated 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Sague- 
nay,  is  now  connected  with  Quebec  by  railroad,  and 
is  only  a  day  and  a  half  distant  from  E"ew  York.  It 
affords  good  accommodations,  but  there  is  no  place  any- 
where on  the  Saguenay  or  at  its  mouth  where  the  trav- 
eller can  stop.  The  Canadians,  although  generally  will- 
ing to  offer  such  accommodation  as  they  possess,  are  too 
dirty  in  their  habits,  and  often  too  much  beloved  of 
creeping  things  to  suit  American  taste.  So  that  as  there 
is  little  or  no  trout  fishing  at  Riviere  du  Loup,  the 
angler  must  make  his  arrangements  for  a  camp-life,  and 
would  do  well  to  descend  the  St.  Lawrence  in  a  pilot 
boat,  which  he  can  hire  with  a  man  and  boy  for  two 
dollars  a  day,  and  stop  at  the  mouths  of  all  the  streams 
that  debouche  into  it.  The  river  is  over  twenty  miles 
wide,  and  he  must  look  out  for  storms,  as  these  boats 
are  open  and  by  no  means  good  sea  boats.  At  night  he 
can  go  ashore,  build  a  fire,  put  up  his  tent,  and  call  into 
requisition  the  numerous  luxuries  this  mode  of  travelling 
will  enable  him  to  carry. 

3* 


58  SEA    TROUT. 

A  steamboat  ascends  the  Saguenay  twice  a  week,  and 
he  can  either  take  it  at  Quebec  or  join  it  at  Riviere  du 
Loup,  and  by  this  means  enjoy  a  trip  through  the  bold 
scenery  of  that  celebrated  river,  and  can  either  return  to 
Riviere  du  Loup,  or  take  a  pilot  boat  at  L'Anse  a  1'Eau. 
There  is  a  generous-hearted  Englishman  living  at  L'Anse 
a  1'Eau,  but  he  has  been  compelled  to  refuse  admission  to 
all  strangers,  as  any  infraction  of  that  rule  would  have 
led  to  his  being  overrun. 

Many  of  the  streams  of  Lower  Canada  are  leased  to 
private  individuals,  and  there  are  few  good  accessible 
salmon  streams  open  to  the  public,  but  the  sea  trout  fish- 
ing along  the  St.  Lawrence  and  at  the  mouths  of  most 
of  the  streams  is  free  to  all.  In  Nova  Scotia  and  New 
Brunswick,  and  at  Prince  Edward's  Island,  there  is  as 
yet  no  restriction,  and  both  salmon  arid  trout  are  the 
property  of  him  who  can  catch  them.  Nowhere,  how- 
ever, can  any  salmon  fishing  or  good  trout  fishing  be 
had  except  by  camping  out.  Canadian  canoemen  can 
be  obtained,  if  not  required  to  furnish  canoes,  for  sixty 
cents  a  day,  although  the  Indians,  who  are  far  superior, 
command  over  a  dollar,  and  where  the  angler  is  unac- 
quainted with  the  water  he  is  to  fish,  he  had  better  take 
the  latter.  They  are,  however,  willful  and  exacting, 
and  sometimes  stubborn  and  troublesome,  while  the 
former  are  the  best-natured  fellows  in  the  world,  full  of 
fun,  song  and  frolic,  but  often  too  fond  of  the  liquor 
case. 

The  best  river  of  Lower  Canada  is  the  Mingan,  but  if 
it  is  not  already  leased  it  soon  will  be.  It  can  be  reached 
by  steamer  that  leaves  Quebec  semi- weekly,  stopping  at 


SEA    TROUT.  59 

Gaspi,  at  Bathurst  on  the  Bay  de  Chaleurs,  which  is  near 
Nipisiquit,  the  best  river  of  New  Brunswick,  at  several 
places  along  the  route,  and  finally  at  Shediac,  whence 
there  is  a  communication  with  St.  John  or  Halifax. 
The  steamer  running  at  the  time  this  is  written  is  the 
Arabian,  and  leaves  Quebec  every  alternate  Monday. 
The  Nipisiquit  is  within  a  few  miles  of  Bathurst,  where 
there  is  good  accommodation,  and  boatmen  can  be 
obtained  without  difficulty,  or  the  fisherman  may  con- 
tinue his  travels  to  Dalhousie,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Resti- 
gouche,  and  try  either  that  or  the  Matapediac.  Another 
mode  of  reaching  the  fishing  grounds,  is  to  go  to  St. 
John,  and  thence  by  steamboat  to  Fredericton,  and 
cross  over  by  land  to  the  Miramichi,  at  Boiestown,  where 
there  is  excellent  trout  and  fair  salmon  fishing.  A  list 
of  the  distances  from  Quebec,  together  with  further 
instructions,  is  given  under  the  head  of  salmon  fishing, 
as  the  rivers  we  have  mentioned  are  properly  salmon 
rivers. 

The  sea  trout  fishing  is  so  fine,  that  many  persons 
prefer  it  to  taking  the  larger  salmon,  and  can  be  indulged 
in  almost  anywhere  along  the  shores  of  New  Brunswick, 
Nova  Scotia,  Prince  Edward's  Island,  Newfoundland 
and  Lower  Canada ;  and  were  it  not  for  the  heavy  fogs, 
the  Bay  of  St.  Lawrence  would  be  a  favorite  resort  of 
our  adventurous  yachtsmen.  The  Galway  line  of  ocean 
steamers  now  touches  at  Newfoundland,  whose  waters 
abound  with  the  finest  fish. 

The  sea  trout  ascend  to  the  head-waters  of  the  Mira- 
michi quite  early,  so  that  there  are  none  of  large  size 
to  be  caught  in  the  lower  section  by  the  middle  of 


60  SEA    TROUT. 

July.  In  that  river  they  average  from  two  to  five 
pounds'  weight.  But  the  Tabasintac,  a  stream  naif-way 
between  Chatham  and  Bathurst,  is  the  most  famous 
sea  trout  river  of  New  Brunswick.  I  do  not  know  of 
any  sea  trout  along  the  southern  shore  of  New  Bruns- 
wick. 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  61 


CHAPTEE  IY. 

A  TEIP   TO   THE  LA  YAL. 

A  BEAUTIFUL  breeze  was  blowing  down  between  the 
grand  old  hills  of  the  majestic  Saguenay  on  that  first 
day  of  August  when  Walton  and  myself  started  from 
L'Anse  a  1'Eau  in  one  of  the  oddly-shaped  pilot-boats  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  for  a  visit  to  the  Bon  Homme  la 
Yal.  The  Bon  Homme  la  Yal,  a  beautiful  and  roman- 
tic stream  that  falls  into  the  St.  Lawrence  about  sixty 
miles  below  the  Saguenay,  tradition  asserts  was  named 
by  the  pious  Canadians  in  the  early  days  of  the  country 
after  a  beloved  father  confessor.  But  time  and  the 
English,  equally  utilitarian,  have  contracted  it  into  sim- 
ply La  Yal,  and  the  origin  of  the  name,  together  with 
the  piety  that  suggested  it,  is  almost  forgotten  by  the 
present  generation.  The  sun  was  shining  brilliantly,  and 
the  strong  northwest  wind  curled  the  waves  of  the 
ancient  river,  and  crested  them  with  foam ;  the  dark 
waters  surged  in  their  falling  tide;  the  stunted  trees 
shivered  in  the  blast;  while  the  granite  hills  were  as 
immovable  as  they  had  been  mid  storm  and  calm  for 
many  thousand  years ;  but  the  pretty  little  village  was 
all  astir  with  our  departure. 

It  is  a  fanciful  place,  with  the  white  houses 
perched  in  a  nook  between  the  Tifciter  rocks,  while  the 


62  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

graceful  roofs  and  white- washed  walls  shining  in  the 
sunlight,  produces  a  picturesque  effect.  The  few  English 
families  residing  there,  and  their  many  friends  on  visit  to 
them,  made  an  agreeable  society,  drawn  closer  together 
by  its  seclusion  from  the  world  at  large  ;  and  bright  eyes 
looked  brighter  when  there  were  none  others  by. 

The  world  of  L'Anse  a  1'Eau  was  collected  on  the 
wharf  to  witness  our  departure — the  Canadians  because 
they  had  no  better  employment,  the  English  that  they 
might  bid  us  adieu.  Our  pilot-boat,  called  by  the  Cana- 
dians chaloupe,  an  open  boat  some  five-and-twenty  feet 
long  by  seven  wide,  was  crammed  full  of  our  numerous 
traps,  plunder  or  baggage,  as  it  would  be  variously 
styled  in  different  parts  of  our  land  of  freedom.  The 
fishing  rods,  and  one  gun,  devoted  to  the  destruction  of 
bears  for  lack  of  smaller  game,  were  carefully  stowed ; 
small  barrels,  at  present  filled  with  meat,  but  destined  to 
return  filled  with  fish,  lay  side  by  side  with  baskets  full 
of  more  delicate  provender ;  tents,  bedding  and  innumer- 
able other  articles  occupied  every  inch  of  room.  We 
were  experienced  in  woodsman  life,  and  had  no  idea  of 
suffering  the  want  of  luxuries  that  could  be  easily  car- 
ried with  us,  and  would  never  trouble  us  on  our 
return,  unless  they  did  it  in  spite  of  our  teeth.  There 
were  preserved  soups,  meats  and  fruits,  sauces  of  many 
kinds,  tea  and  coffee,  the  latter  ground  and  in  bottles  of 
essence  ;  there  were  brown,  white  and  maple  sugars, 
concentrated  milk,  flour,  indian  and  oatmeal,  barley,  rice 
and  potatoes ;  liquors  of  many  kinds,  and  other  things 
too  numerous  to  mention.  For  our  protection  from  the 
weather,  we  had  tw<^  tents  and  waterproof  cloth  sufii- 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  63 

cient  for  a  make-shift,  two  indian-rubber  blankets  apiece, 
one  coated  on  the  side  the  other  in  the  middle,  water- 
proof suits,  plenty  of  blankets,  flannels,  and  warm 
clothes ;  and  such  other  things  as  a  gentleman  ordinarily 
carries  on  a  journey.  As  a  defence  against  the  mosqui- 
toes, black  flies,  sand  flies,  and  other  like  torments  of 
Satan's  invention,  there  were  veils,  the  oil  of  tar,  and  a 
mixture  of  glycerine,  turpentine  and  spearmint.  Above 
our  treasures  were  carefully  stowed  our  two  canoes, 
bottom  upmost.  In  a  heavy  sea  they  cannot  be  towed, 
as  they  are  apt  to  fill  and  tear  to  pieces. 

Few  persons  know  how  beautiful  and  delicate  a  canoe 
is.  It  is  manufactured  only  by  the  Indian ;  in  that  the 
white  man  has  never  equalled  him.  The  best  is  made 
from  a  piece  of  white  birch  bark,  stripped  from  the  tree 
in  springtime,  damped,  and  after  being  cut  away  to  the 
requisite  extent,  molded  into  the  proper  shape.  The 
inside  is  covered  with  gum,  and  a  thinner  piece  of  bark 
fitted  upon  it,  so  that  though  the  outer  bark  be  torn,  it 
still  does  not  leak.  Over  this  are  passed  thin  strips  of 
red  cedar,  lengthwise  of  the  canoe,  and  crossing  them  at 
every  inch  are  ribs  of  the  same  wood.  The  gunwale  is 
formed  of  a  stout  stick  of  hickory  or  ash,  laced  to  the 
sides,  and  four  strong  but  slender  thwarts  bind  the  whole 
firmly  together,  and  serve  for  seats  or  supports.  Inferior 
articles  are  made  of  but  one  thickness  and  of  poorer 
bark.  The  shape  differs  according  as  they  are  manufac- 
tured by  the  Mountaineers  or  Micmacs,  the  two  tribes  of 
this  region,  the  former  building  a  long,  narrow  and 
graceful  boat,  easily  capsized  even  for  a  canoe,  and  well 
suited  for  travel  in  smooth  water ;  while  the  latter  build 


64  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

a  broader  and  flatter  boat,  drawing  little  water  and  bet- 
ter suited  for  shoals  and  rapids.  They  are  mostly 
manufactured  on  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
birch-trees  of  the  requisite  size  having  almost  disappeared 
from  the  nprth  shore.  The  bark  is  composed  of  innu- 
merable layers,  and  is  the  only  known  substance  that 
would  stand  the  rough  contact  with  rocks  that  canoes 
experience.  A  volume  could  be  written  on  the  wondrous 
qualities  of  birch  bark,  the  woodsman's  invaluable  trea- 
sure ;  to  him  it  is  a  boat,  a  tent,  a  table,  a  plate,  a  cup,  a 
basket,  a  pail,  a  basin,  a  frying-pan,  a  tea-kettle,  a  candle, 
a  flambeau,  a  cooking  oven,  writing  paper,  kindling 
wood,  and  almost  all  the  other  conveniences  or  necessa- 
ries of  life. 

The  chaloupe  being  loaded,  a  long  farewell  shouted 
loudly  that  our  spirits  might  not  fail,  and  we  turned  our 
backs  on  L'Anse  a  1'Eau,  the  pretty  bay  at  the  water- 
side. The  jib  was  set,  and  the  grande  voile,  or  foresail, 
together  with  the  tapitue,  or  jigger,  while  the  mainsail, 
called  by  the  Canadians  mizzin — for  we  were  a  three- 
masted  schooner — was  brailed  up,  not  only  to  give  us 
more  room,  but  because  the  open  boat  was  then  under 
all  the  sail  she  could  stagger  to.  The  French  are  a  won- 
derful people;  strange  and  incomprehensible  are  the 
sailing  vessels  they  have  produced ;  but  in  Canada,  aided 
by  the  antiquated  notions  of  the  English,  they  surpass 
themselves  and  manage  to  combine  in  their  pilot-boats 
all  the  defects  of  which  either  system  is  capable.  While 
the  rest  of  the  world  has  discovered  that  the  more  sails  a 
small  boat  carries  the  slower  she  will  go,  they  have  care- 
fully cut  up  what  should  have  been,  one  sail  into  four; 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  65 

and  whereas  a  pilot-boat  is  mainly  wanted  in  rough 
weather,  and  should  be  capable  of  living  in  any  sea, 
they  have  built  them  open,  and  any  heavy  wave  breaking 
aboard  would  swamp  them  in  an  instant. 

But  of  all  wonderful  productions  of  the  human  mind 
the  jigger  excels ;  a  mast  is  stepped  alongside  the 
stern-post,  with  a  little  spritsail  hoisted  on  it ;  a  sta- 
tionary boom,  or  out-rigged,  is  fastened  in  the  stern  and 
projects  aft  into  the  water;  in  the  end  of  this  boom  an 
augur  hole  is  bored,  through  which  is  rove  the  sheet  to 
the  jigger,  and  the  sail  trimmed  down  or  eased  off.  By 
this  ingenious  arrangement  all  possible  disadvantages  are 
combined  without  one  conceivable  advantage.  How- 
ever, not  to  condemn  unreasonably,  there  are  conve- 
niences in  this  singular  rig.  The  bowsprit  can  be  taken 
out  and  used  to  shove  off  from  rocks  or  a  lee  shore,  and 
as  these  vessels  are  never  known  to  go  to  windward,  that 
is  important ;  the  sprit  of  the  jigger  can  be  used  to 
boom  out  the  mainsail  when  going  wing  and  wing ;  any 
passenger,  finding  a  sail  incommodes  him,  can  reach  up 
and  wrap  it  round  the  mast,  out  of  his  way ;  and  in  fact, 
if  he  were  to  pull  it  down  and  put  it  in  his  pocket,  no 
one  would  miss  it ;  and  finally,  a  Kentuckian  might  find 
the  mainmast  useful,  with  a  little  whittling,  as  a  tooth- 
pick. It  is  also  rather  perplexing  that  the  Canadians 
should  call  the  foresail  the  grande  voile,  which  is  the 
proper  name  for  the  mainsail,  and  then  call  the  mainsail 
the  mizzin,  in  pronouncing  which  they  endeavor  to  cheat 
the  last  syllable  of  its  vowel ;  whereas,  the  jigger,  if  any, 
is  entitled  to  be  called  the  mizzen.  Instead  of  having  a 
cabin,  like  Christians,  they  have  amidships,  for  it  is  a 


66  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

keel  boat,  what  they  call  a  ~boite  ;  arid  sure  enough  it  is 
a  box,  as  long  as  the  width  of  the  boat,  some  seven  feet, 
about  two  and  a  half  feet  deep  at  the  lowest  part,  and 
rounding  to  the  shape  of  the  bottom,  and  three  and  a 
half  feet  wide.  Into  that  they  crawl,  and  two  men  and 
a  boy  have  been  known  to  sleep  comfortably. 

Such  was  the  vessel  that  was  destined  to  bear  us  sixty 
miles  down  the  broad  St.  Lawrence,  and  was  soon  tear- 
ing along  under  the  fierce  wind  that  crested  every  wave 
writh  foam.  Fortunately,  our  course  lay  along  the  wea- 
ther shore,  for  our  open  cockle-shell  would  not  have  lived 
a  minute  exposed  to  the  full  sweep  of  the  blast  and  the 
sea  it  must  have  raised  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  or 
even  a  few  miles  from  shore.  Once  in  a  while,  a  little 
dash  of  spray  would  come  hissing  on  board,  or  fling  itself 
into  our  faces ;  but  as  the  wind  was  free,  we  could  carry 
on  sail  as  long  as  she  could  keep  above  the  waves,  or 
until  she  carried  the  masts  out  of  her.  Even  that 
ungainly  vessel,  driving  on  in  the  seething  waters,  car- 
rying the  canoes  on  her  deck,  and  with  her  sails  straining 
in  the  blast,  must  have  been  more  than  picturesque. 

On  we  tore,  skirting  the  dreary,  inhospitable  coast  past 
the  village  of  Tadousac,  past  the  Moulinbaud,  the  Esco- 
main,  a  river  once  famous  for  its  salmon,  but  no  longer 
so ;  past  the  Patte  de  Lievre,  a  rock  of  the  shape  of  the 
hare's  foot,  where  many  years  ago  the  sea  gave  up  its 
dead,  and  a  cross  now  stands  to  mark  the  grave  of  the 
lost  nameless  one ;  and  the  last  puffs  of  the  wearied 
blast  urged  us  quietly  into  the  outlet  of  Sault  de  Cochon. 
At  the  mouth  of  this  river  there  is  a  steep  fall,  down 
which  once  a  hog  hastily  descended  much  against  her 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  67 

will;  in  her  death   covering  herself  with   immortality- 
giving  her  name  to  the  torrent  that  destroyed  her. 

Hastily  launching  one  of  the  canoes,  and  rigging  up  our 
rods,  my  companion  and  myself,  eager  for  the  fray,  com- 
menced tempting  the  innocent  inhabitants  of  the  deep 
with  delusive  baits.  Evidently  Mr.  Red  Hackle  was  not 
one  of  their  intimate  acquaintances,  and  they  took  to 
him  amazingly.  The  god  of  day  was  already  declining 
behind  the  western  hills,  and  casting  long  shadows  over 
the  now  placid  water,  but  the  fish  leaped  at  the  fly  in 
innumerable  numbers,  giving  us  such  sport  as  we  at  least 
never  enjoyed  before.  At  almost  every  cast  a  trout, 
varying  in  size  from  a  quarter  of  a  pound  to  two  pounds 
and  a  half,  plunging  out  of  water,  seized  the  fly  fear- 
lessly in  his  mouth,  while  often  two  or  three  were  on  the 
line  at  once.  Large  or  smaTl,  they  were  most  vigorous, 
making  fierce  struggles  and  mad  rushes  to  escape,  their 
silver  sides  glancing  through  the  water,  and  their  tails 
lashing  it  into  a  foam.  ~No  dull,  heavy,  logy  fish  were 
they,  but  active  and  lively,  and  excellent  was  the  sport 
they  gave  ;  so  that  when  our  men,  having  improvised  a 
kitchen  on  the  rocks,  called  to  us  that  supper  was  ready, 
we  were  loath  to  leave  our  sport.  It  was  then  eight 
o'clock ;  we  had  been  fishing  about  three  hours,  and 
over  one  hundred  and  twenty  fish,  averaging  about  half 
a  pound,  were  the  net  reward  of  our  skill. 

The  scene,  as  we  took  our  supper  upon  the  end  of  an 
old  tumble-down  dock,  was  peculiar.  The  light  of  the 
fires,  making  the  surrounding  darkness  the  deeper,  served 
alone  to  illumine  with  lurid  brightness  the  faces  and  fan- 
tastic dresses  of  our  men,  while  the  roar  of  the  cataract 


68  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

shut  out  all  other  sounds.  The  chaloupe  lay  below  us, 
its  outline  just  defined  upon  the  dark  water,  while  we, 
seated  upon  a  log,  drank  our  tea  and  feasted  right  roy- 
ally upon  fresh  trout  and  other  comforts  that  civilization 
had  provided  us. 

Truly  incomprehensible  are  the  Canadian  people.  One 
of  the  few  inhabitants  being  without  any  eatable  thing 
in  the  house,  having  scraped  the  flour  barrel  till  he  had 
scraped  off  splinters  of  wood,  and,  except  for  our  arrival, 
without  the  prospect  of  a  meal  for  the  morrow,  had 
soothed  his  sorrows  by  inviting  his  neighbors  to  a  ball. 
Of  course  there  was  no  supper ;  but  the  music  of  one 
fiddle,  and  the  merry  spirits  of  the  Canadian  girls  made 
up  for  the  deficiency,  and  when  we  joined  them,  after 
our  tea,  they  all  seemed  as  happy  as  though  stomachs 
never  grew  hungry  or  limb^tired.  Being  politely  offered 
the  belles,  we  joined  the  festivities,  our  potables  adding 
to  the  merriment  of  the  party,  till,  with  the  prospect 
of  a  hard  day's  work  on  the  morrow,  we  thought  best  to 
retire  to  the  dressing-room  and  camp  upon  the  floor  for 
the  night.  Although  the  bed  was  hard,  and  our  rest 
somewhat  disturbed  by  visions  of  beautiful  creatures 
arranging  their  hair  and  dresses  by  the  light  of  a  tallow 
candle,  before  the  looking-glass  in  our  room,  and  at  last 
donning  their  hats  for  a  final  departure,  we  slept  toler- 
ably, and  the  early  dawn  saw  us  on  our  feet,  preparing 
for  our  departure. 

"While  the  men  were  carrying  out  our  directions,  in 
anticipation  of  a  long  absence  from  civilization,  the 
attractions  of  the  finny  tribe  were  too  seductive,  and  we, 
yielding  to  their  enticements,  again  cast  our  lines  in  plea- 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  69 

sant  places,  and  again,  in  about  three  hours,  captured 
over  eighty  of  the  speckled  silver-sides.  The  largest 
weighed  two  pounds  and  a  half,  and  was  the  best  fish 
taken,  thus  far. 

The  barrels  were  arranged,  the  salt  was  purchased  and 
stowed,  the  canoes  made  fast,  the  sails  set,  and,  blessed 
by  a  still  more  favorable  southwest  wind,  we  got  under 
way  for  La  Val.  Its  mouth  was  only  about  one  mile 
distant,  but  we  intended  to  ascend  it  as  far  as  possible 
with  the  chaloupe,  on  the  rising  tide,  and  were  thankful 
for  the  favoring  wind.  At  its  outlet  lies  an  island  of  the 
same  name  with  the  river,  behind  which  stretches  a 
broad,  rocky,  shallow  bay.  We  escaped  by  grazing 
several  rocks,  and  entered  a  sluggish,  canal-like,  dirty 
river,  as  unlike  the  La  Yal  of  a  few  miles  above  as  any- 
thing can  be  conceived,  and  ploughed  our  way  through 
crowding  shoals  of  sardines,  that  rose  so  thick  as  to 
tempt  us  to  try  to  catch  them  with  a  scap  net.  But 
where  the  rocks  began  to  be  visible  as  the  water  became 
clearer,  we  drew  the  chaloupe  to  the  shore,  and  anchor- 
ing her  stem  and  stern,  loaded  our  canoes  for  the  ascent 
of  the  river.  We  took  with  us  the  essentials  of  our 
camp  life,  intending  to  send  back  for  the  superfluities 
after  we  had  established  a  permanent  camp ;  the  river 
being  too  low,  our  canoes  would  not  carry  a  heavy  load. 

Armed  with  iron-shod  poles  to  shove  up  the  rapids, 
and  paddles  for  the  deeper  pools,  our  Canadians  took 
their  places  and  we  commenced  our  ascent.  My  com- 
panion was  an  expert  canoeman,  but  for  myself  it  was 
my  first  real  lesson  in  the  unsteady  little  shells,  and 
seated  upon  the  bottom  I  awaited  every  moment  a 


70  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

sudden  bath.  Here  the  water  was  comparatively  smooth, 
and  little  was  I  prepared  for  the  falls  and  rapids  that 
were  ere  long  to  steady  my  nerves  for  anything,  and  prove 
what  a  canoe  can  do  when  it  is  well  handled. 
-  "While  our  head  guide,  with  the  musical  taste  that  is 
inherent  in  the  French  nature,  rang  forth — 

"  Aimez-moi  Nicolas," 

the  paddles  were  being  plied  vigorously,  and  we  shot 
into  the  narrow  cleft  that  forms  the  bed  of  the  La  Yal. 
Straight  up  from  the  water's  edge  sprung  the  hills  on 
each  side,  their  grey  rocks  scarcely  half  covered  with 
stunted  spruce,  pine  and  hemlock,  and  rarely  leaving 
margin  enough  for  underwood  to  grow  upon  the  bank. 
The  water,  now  limpid  as  crystal,  poured  down  in  an 
ever  increasing  current,  and  here  and  there  boiled 
over  a  hidden  rock.  On  we  forced  our  way,  a  bald 
eagle  the  only  contestant  for  our  sole  occupancy  of  the 
river,  past  the  grey  cliffs,  the  sombre  trees,  through  dark 
pools,  up  rapid  currents,  by  banks  of  clay  greyer  than 
the  granite  hills  themselves.  On,  on,  with  steady  exer- 
tions, at  every  moment  ascending  toward  the  source  of 
the  wild  stream.  The  water  became  shoaler,  the  cur- 
rents stronger,  and  the  rapids  more  rocky  as  we  ad- 
vanced. 

Poling  up  the  rapids  was  strange  indeed.  Imagine  a 
torrent  pouring,  hissing  and  boiling  down  over  rocks, 
where  the  foam  glistened  and  the  spray  danced  into  the 
air,  sweeping  through  narrow  channels  and  leaping  up 
and  curling  over  in  crested  waves  ;  imagine  a  light,  fra- 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  71 

gile  boat,  that  a  man  could  lift  with  one  hand,  forced 
against  such  a  current,  between  or  even  over  the  rocks, 
swayed  about,  swept  hither  and  thither,  and  once  in  a 
while  caught  broadside  on,  and,  unless  quickly  righted, 
carried  to  instant  destruction.  Imagine  the  excited 
efforts,  the  quick  directions  of  the  steersman,  or  forward 
boatman,  whose  care  it  is  to  head  the  canoe  straight,  to 
choose  at  a  glance  the  deepest  channel,  and  to  keep  her 
clear  as  possible  from  the  rocks.  "  Arrete !  avance  ! 
pousse  !  a  droite !  a  gauche  /"  with  a  thousand  others, 
come  streaming  forth  as  she  touches,  swings  round,  or 
tries  to  take  her  own  head.  At  times  she  stops  entirely, 
and  by  main  force  alone  is  she  pushed  over ;  the  rock 
being  distinctly  felt  as  it  bends  the  thin  bark,  that  by 
its  elasticity  gives  to  the  pressure  and  springs  to  its  place 
the  next  instant.  The  men  stand  erect,  exerting  all  their 
strength,  and  handle  their  poles  like  a  Paddy  his  shille- 
lah,  first  on  one  side,  then  on  the  other,  then  in  front 
and  then  behind,  the  iron  taking  a  firm  hold  of  the  slip- 
pery rocks.  Such  was  our  ascent,  and  deeply  interesting 
it  proved  to  me,  although  at  first  it  seemed  inevitable 
that  the  foaming  water  must  ingulf  us  all,  and,  destroy- 
ing our  provisions,  leave  us,  if  we  escaped  at  all,  ship- 
wrecked mariners  upon  a  desolate  coast. 

I  was  glad,  therefore,  at  every  opportunity  to  quit  the 
canoe,  and  clambering  as  fast  as  I  could  over  the  slip- 
pery rocks,  post  myself  ahead  upon  the  point  of  some 
latture  or  ledge  of  rocks,  and  cast  the  fly  till  the  canoe 
came  toiling  painfully  along.  Great  was  my  success, 
beautiful  the  dark  pools,  ever  varying  the  limpid  water. 
The  treacherous  banks  of  clay,  so  slippery  that  it  was 


72  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

scarce  possible  to  stand  on  them  ;  the  dark  pines  casting 
a  gloomy  shadow  upon  the  water,  the  sombre  depths 
where  the  current  had  worn  away  a  cavern  for  the 
naiads  of  the  watery  realm,  made  together  a  picture 
never  to  be  forgotten.  While*  the  innumerable  trout 
were  enough  to  gladden  the  heart  of  any  true  sportsman. 

The  day  was  passed  and  yet  our  journey  not  half 
done;  we  halted  for  the  night  as  "The  shades  of  eve 
came  slowly  down,"  and  Walton  joined  me  with  his  rod 
while  the  tent  was  being  pitched  and  the  fire  lighted. 
Glorious  was  our  sport ;  many  a  brave  fish  rose  and 
sunk,  and  rose  to  sink  no  more  ;  either  in  that  region  the 
parent  trout  had  not  learned  the  infant  song  that  in 
civilized  localities  they  are  accustomed  to  teach  their 
children,  or  else  the  mothers  did  not  know  the  latter 
were  out ;  for  certainly  they  were  not  aware  of  the  con- 
cealment of  the  cruel  hook  under  the  seeming  insect. 
They  showed  no  fear  and  we  no  pity,  till  the  call  of 
"  supper  "  found  us  with  over  a  hundred  fish,  averaging 
a  pound  and  a  half. 

In  conscious  innocence  and  happiness  we  retired  ;  the 
fire  was  bright,  the  night  was  warm,  the  woods  were 
still,  the  sand  was  soft,  but  oh  !  the  sand  flies.  They 
came  down  upon  us  more  innumerable  than  the  locusts 
in  Egypt,  and  if  Pharaoh  had  only  been  tormented  with 
.them,  he  would  have  given  up  in  one  night.  I  tossed 
and  turned  and  rolled  about,  hid  my  head  under  the 
blanket,  and  covered  it  up  with  my  handkerchief.  All 
to  no  use  ;  they  would  still  find  some  means  of  entrance, 
the  little,  invisible  things ;  and  they  bit  till  my  face 
seemed  on  fire.  Their  bite  does  not  itch  like  a  mosqui- 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  73 

to's,  but  burns,  and  I  never  again  shall  despise  a  thing 
because  it  is  small.  Compelled  to  surrender  all  hope  of 
sleep,  I  gathered  the  dying  embers  of  the  fire,  and  add- 
ing fuel,  drove  away  the  pests,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
with  infinite  relish,  I  scorched  our  men,  who,  to  my  pre- 
vious disgust,  had  been  sleeping  during  my  sufferings  as 
though  they- were  in  paradise. 

By  the  earliest  dawn  I  had  waded  into  the  river  and 
made  the  discovery  that  fish,  unlike  the  proverbial  birds, 
will  not  take  the  fly  too  early.  Just  before  the  sunlight 
tinged  the  mountain-tops,  they,  thinking  to  provide  their 
own  breakfasts,  provided  me  with  mine,  so  that,  when 
the  time  came  to  leave  off,  I  had  taken  twenty  fish 
Weighing  over  forty  pounds. 

Immediately  after  the  meal  was  over,  we  continued 
our  ascent  as  rapidly  as  possible,  dreading  another  expe- 
rience such  as  we  had  endured  the  previous  night,  and 
hurried  on  to  reach  our  regular  camping-ground  and 
pitch  a  proper  tent.  On  the  way,  I  only  had  time  to 
catch  fifteen,  weighing  thirty-seven  pounds,  the  largest 
being  of  three  pounds  and  a  half,  and  late  in  the  after- 
noon hailed  with  pleasure  the  information  that  at  last 
we  had  reached  the  spot  that  was  to  be  to  us  for  some 
time  our  home.  It  was  a  beautiful  location  ;  the  stream, 
by  a  sudden  bend,  forming  a  low,  long  point  of  land, 
nearly  level,  which  had  been,  by  previous  camping  par- 
ties, entirely  denuded  of  underbrush  and  partly  of  trees. 
In  front,  midway  in  the  river,  was  a  large  flat  rock, 
beyond  which,  extending  to  the  further  shore,  and  just 
fairly  within  casting  distance,  lay  a  deep,  black  pool. 
A  dead  tree  leaned  over  this  rock  from  our  side  of  the 

4 


74:  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA   VAL. 

river,  forming  a  perilous  swinging  bridge  by  which  one 
could  reach  it  dry-shod.  Directly  across  a  cool  spring 
brook  entered  the  La  Yal  at  a  place  where  the  shore  was 
a  mass  of  overhanging  underbrush.  A  pathway  had 
been  cut  through  the  woods  by  some  previous  salmon 
fishers  to  the  pools  above  and  below  ;  and  with  the  poles, 
benches,  boards  and  other  insignificant  but  useful  articles 
left  by  our  predecessors,  our  camping-ground  combined 
every  requisite  with  many  luxuries.  At  five  o'clock 
the  tent  was  pitched,  our  necessary  part  of  the  arrange- 
ments, the  head-work  done,  and  Walton  and  myself  com- 
menced fishing.  We  stood  side  by  side  upon  the  rock 
already  mentioned,  and  before  dark  had  taken  fifty-three 
trout,  weighing  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds.  They 
were  most  vigorous  fish,  and  many  a  time  did  their  con- 
tinued runs  almost  exhaust  our  lines.  We  had  fished  at 
Sault  de  Cochon  with  three  flies ;  on  ascending  the  river 
had  diminished  them  to  two,  and  now  the  fish  themselves 
coolly  reduced  them  to  one.  Almost  invariably,  if  we 
struck  two  fish  at  a  time,  no  matter  what  pains  we  took, 
one  broke  away  with  the  hook.  After  a  short  time,  we 
did  not  pretend  to  use  more  than  one,  and  then  had  to 
take  great  pains  in  removing  it  from  the  mouth  to  avoid 
its  being  destroyed,  so  tough  were  the  lips  and  strong  the 
teeth  of  these  noble  fish.  Indeed,  it  was  soon  effectually 
proved  that  any  fly  with  the  hackle  wound  from  the 
shoulder  to  the  bind  was  worthless,  the  first  fish  biting 
away  the  hackle,  which  should  have  been  only  wound 
close  to  the  head.  Heretofore  the  destruction  of  my  fly 
had  been  a  minor  consideration,  but  now  I  found  that  I 
must  look  to  myself,  or,  although  provided  with  over 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  75 

thirty  dozen,  there  might  be  danger  of  my  falling  short. 
As  it  was,  the  fish  destroyed  in  the  course  of  my  trip  at 
least  ten  dozen. 

A  delicious  night's  rest  was  the  reward  of  our  efforts 
at  arranging  a  proper  camp,  and  in  fact,  henceforth 
there  was  no  trouble  from  flies,  mosquitoes,  or  any  insect, 
except  to  a  slight  degree  during  the  day-time ;  an  annoy- 
ance that  a  segar  would  effectually  dispel.  From  a  quarter 
before  seven  to  a  quarter  past  eight  next  morning  I  alone 
took  twelve  fish  averaging  over  two  pounds,  and  during 
the  day,  while  ascending  the  river  for  a  short  distance  to 
investigate  what  now  became  to  us  a  serious  question, 
the  depth  of  water,  Walton  and  myself  together  caught 
twelve,  and  in  the  afternoon  twenty-eight  more.  In  the 
course  of  this  day  we  established  a  rule  to  throw  back 
all  fish  weighing  under  two  pounds,  a  rule  we  adhered 
to  till  our  last  day  in  the  river.  The  water  proved  to  be 
very  low,  and  although  at  night  we  occasionally  heard 
the  rush  of  a  large  fish  up  the  rapids,  the  salmon  had 
passed  above  and  were  probably  on  their  spawning 
grounds,  whither  it  now  began  to  be  very  doubtful 
whether  we  could  follow  them.  It  was  late  in  the  sea- 
son, as  we  knew,  for  salmon,  although  we  had  come  pre- 
pared for  them,  and  wished  to  catch  at  least  a  few. 

We  had  picked  up  at  Sault  de  Cochon,  as  a  super- 
numerary, a  boy  of  about  eighteen,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  beings  the  sun  ever  shone  upon.  He 
would  sit  for  hours  with  his  mouth  open  'and  his  hands 
before  him,  and,  unless  told,  would  hardly  have  sense  to 
eat  enough  to  keep  himself  from  starvation.  After  dark, 
our  men,  with  a  hook  and  line  and  the  entrails  of  a  trout- 


76  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

for  bait,  caught  some  eels,  and  he,  emulous  of  their  suc- 
cess, took  the  line  after  they  had  finished,  and  concluded 
he  would  try  his  luck.  Although  he  had  been  watching 
their  proceedings  for  an  hour  with  the  deepest  interest, 
he  had  no  idea  what  they  used  for  bait,  and  was  forced 
to  inquire.  They,  with  peals  of  laughter,  suggested 
alternately  "  a  cup  of  tea,  a  bit  of  biscuit,  a  little  ale, 
a  lump  of  sugar,"  and  such  other  anomalous  baits. 
Although  he  at  last  succeeded  in  ascertaining  from  them 
what  they  used,  it  was  not  to  be  supposed  that  he  would 
catch  anything ;  in  fact,  it  is  highly  probable  he  fell 
asleep  over  his  rod  and  slept  till  morning. 

The  next  day  we  prepared  for  a  portage  of  five  miles 
to  the  Lake  la  Yal,  a  pond  of  some  two  miles  in  length 
by  one  in  breadth,  formed  by  the  river's  spreading  out 
and  filling  a  valley  in  the  hills.  Walton  donned  a  heavy 
basket,  Joe,  our  chief  canoeman,  took  the  canoe,  while 
Frangois,  the  lazy  boy,  carried  a  bundle  of  bedding. 
"We  crossed  the  river,  and  striking  directly  into  the 
woods,  followed  an  Indian  trail  that  had  probably  been 
there  before  this  continent  was  discovered  by  Columbus. 
The  mode  of  carrying  the  canoe  was  truly  original ;  it 
was  reversed  and  mounted  on  Joe's  shoulders,  and  his 
head  being  entirely  concealed,  he  steadied  it  by  holding 
to  one  of  the  cross  pieces,  and,  at  a  distance,  looked  like 
some  strange  animal  with  a  huge  trunk,  supported  by 
two  little  legs.  It  was  surprising  how  he  managed  it 
through  the  trees  and  among  the  underbrush,  and  even 
ascended  places  where  we  were  compelled  to  give  our 
legs  the  aid  of  our  hands,  not,  however,  without  strenu- 
ous exertion,  and  the  perspiration  streamed  from  him 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  77 

when,  after  accomplishing  about  a  mile,  he  leaned -it 
upon  a  fallen  log  and  slipped  from  beneath.  Then  the 
warning  my  friend  had  so  often  given  me  never  to  wet 
the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  because  it  augmented  its  weight 
so  terribly,  came  forcibly  to  mind.  Fortunately  Frangois 
waked  up,  and  having  volunteered  to  carry  the  canoe 
over  the  next  stretch,  and  it  being  ascertained,  to  every 
one's  astonishment,  that  he  knew  how,  proved  himself 
for  the  first  time  of  any  value,  and  shortened  our  jour- 
ney considerably.  During  the  portage  we  saw  our  first 
game,  a  spruce  grouse  so  tame  that  no  efforts  we  made 
could  induce  him  to  fly.  He  escaped  death,  primarily 
because  we  had  no  gun,  and  secondarily  because  it  was 
out  of  season.  At  last,  after  a  trying  journey  for  our 
men,  we  passed  a  deserted  lumbermen's  shanty,  and 
found  ourselves  upon  the  sandy  shore  of  the  lovely  Lake 
la  Yal. 

This  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  lying  amid  high  sterile 
hills  far  from  the  abodes  of  man,  has  remained,  and  will 
continue  for  centuries,  unvisited  except  by  the  native 
Indian  or  the  adventurous  sportsman.  Romantic  in  its 
location  and  appearance,  it  is  remarkable  for  the  num- 
ber and  apparently  irreconcilable  character  of  the  fish 
that  inhabit  its  waters.  While  the  voracious  northern 
pickerel  and  giant  mascallonge  inhabit  the  upper  part, 
and  the  fierce,  greedy  and  powerful  salmon  have  appro- 
priated the  outlet,  shad  or  mullet  and  lake  trout,  both 
comparatively  inoffensive,  dwell  in  the  centre,  and. 
doubtless  prove  an  easy  prey  and  grateful  food  to  their 
natural  enemies  on  either  hand.  Along  the  upper  mar- 
gin, weeds  grow,  and  the  bottom  is  in  places  soft  and 


78  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

muddy,  while  the  residue  of  the  shore  and  bottom  is  firm 
white  sand.  The  lake  looked,  in  its  broad  expanse  with 
the  sun  dancing  on  its  rippled  surface,  lovely  to  us 
whose  eyes  had  for  a  time  been  confined  to  a  narrow 
gorge  or  the  blue  sky  above. 

Hastily  launching  the  canoe,  we  descended  the  outlet, 
where  the  water  poured  over  huge  bowlders  covered  with 
a  long,  wreedy  grass,  the  seeds  of  which  had  been  washed 
from  the  lake.  Walton  was  standing  in  the  bow  of  the 
canoe,  and  shouted  with  delight,  and  waved  his  paddle 
enthusiastically  in  air  as  salmon  after  salmon  flashed  up 
through  the  water,  and  shot  by,  rapid  as  light.  The 
sight  made  our  nerves  tingle,  but  it  was  useless  to  try 
for  them ;  the  water  was  too  clear,  and  they  were  dark 
and  long  run  from  the  sea.  At  one  point  he  frantically 
shouted  to  stop,  and  hastily  explained  that  he  had  seen 
five  salmon  and  numerous  large  trout  in  one  deep  hole. 
In  vain,  however,  did  we  cast  our  flies,  they  had  been 
frightened,  and  probably  rushed  down  the  stream,  for  we 
could  not  stir  a  fin.  Descending  a  short  distance  fur- 
ther, we  halted  for  dinner,  after  which,  taking  advantage 
of  a  resting  spell,  I  waded  back  to  the  same  spot. 

The  pool  lay  close  beside  a  little  island  covered  with 
alders,  and  by  crawling  cautiously  I  kept  out  of  sight, 
and  reaching  the  head  of  the  island,  cast  carefully  and 
lightly  round  it  into  the  pool.  The  line  went  out  straight 
the  full  length,  the  fly  fell  like  a  snow-flake  on  the 
>water,  there  was  an  angry  rush,  a  mighty  splash,  a  quick 
taughtening  of  the  line,  and  an  enormous  fish  was 
fastened  to  my  frail  tackle.  In  his  astonishment  he 
fortunately  darted  up  stream,  and  by  skillful  manage- 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  79 

ment  was  led  round  into  the  other  channel,  where,  after 
many  a  struggle  and  desperate  effort  to  escape,  baffled 
only  by  prudence  and  care  exerted  through  a  long  but 
exciting  half  hour,  I  landed  him  by  walking  into  the 
water  waist  deep,  and  slipping  the  net  under  him.  As 
for  leading  him  to  shore,  my  rod,  already  bent  double, 
would  not  bear  the  strain.  lie  was  a  dark-backed, 
yellow-sided  river  fish,  and  weighed  four  pounds  and  a 
quarter.  He  was  our  champion  prize,  and  remained  so 
to  the  end.  The  water  not  having  been  disturbed,  I 
made  another  cast,  and  was  rewarded  by  another  fish 
that  weighed  four  pounds.  A  brace  of  beauties,  fit  to  set 
before  a  king.  The  second  one,  however,  so  fought  and 
flounced,  and  kicked  and  slapped  about  in  the  pool,  in 
spite  of  all  my  persuasive  efforts  to  induce  him  to  leave 
it,  that  the  rest  grew  suspicious,  and  refused  the  .most 
seductive  baits.  My  friend  looked  the  least  little  bit 
envious  when  I  rejoined  him,  and  mentioned  his  having 
previously  taken  a  sea  trout  at  the  Mingan  that  weighed 
nine  pounds.  I  smiled,  of  course  respectfully.  We 
returned  to  the  lake,  having  taken  in  all  fifteen  fish 
averaging  three  pounds,  and  leaving  the  canoe  on  the 
beach,  wended  our  way  through  the  woods  back  to  our 
sylvan  home,  where  Pierre  received  us  with  a  redoubtable 
supper.  Insatiable,  however,  I  that  evening  took  eight, 
and  next  morning  three,  from  our  preserve,  as  we  called 
the  pool  in  front  of  the  tent. 

As  wre  intended  to  return  to  the  lake,  and  might  per- 
haps spear  a  pickerel,  Joe  made  an  egog,  which  appears 
to  be  the  Indian  name  for  fish-spear,  the  Canadians 
having  not  only  adopted  the  word,  but  coined  from  it  a 


80  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

French  verb,  egogger,  to  spear.  Armed  with  it,  and 
provided  with  make-shift  tenting  materials,  we  has- 
tened to  the  lake,  and  launching  our  canoe,  tried  its 
virtues  upon  the  pickerel.  The  latter,  however,  were  so 
scarce,  that  we  rigged  up  the*  more  effectual  spinning 
tackle,  and  took  a  pickerel  and  a  mascallonge  of  about 
twelve  pounds  each,  and  struck  another  of  the  latter 
very  large,  weighing,  as  well  as  could  be  guessed,  from 
his  passing  close  to  the  boat,  about  forty  pounds.  That 
night,  provided  with  flambeaux,  we  went  out  for  the 
purpose  of  again  trying  to  spear  pickerel ;  but,  passing 
by  the  outlet  of  the  pond,  were  so  attracted  by  the 
numerous  salmon,  we  could  get  no  further. 

It  was  a  romantic  sight;  the  canoe,  lit  up  by  the 
blazing  flambeau,  that  was  fastened,  high  above  our  heads, 
to  a  pole  fixed  in  the  bow,  and  by  its  glare  made  the 
surrounding  darkness  the  more  impenetrable  ;  the  silence 
of  the  night  wras  unbroken,  except  by  the  dip  of  the 
paddle;  and  calmness  of  the  water  unruffled,  through 
which  the  bewildered  salmon  lazily  floated,  following  us 
about,  corning  so  close  that  we  could  touch  them  with 
our  hands,  and  occasionally  jumping  frantically  into  the 
air,  utterly  out  of  their  wits  and  at  the  mercy  of  any 
poacher.  Walton  was  excited,  myself  enthusiastic,  but 
Joe  was  frantic ;  "  Egoggez  done !  egoggez  done  f"  he 
shouted,  wildly  pushing  at  the  fish  with  his  paddle,  and 
almost  ready  to  jump  out  of  the  boat.  My  friend  held 
the  spear  in  hand — he  was  a  splendid  spearsman,  and 
could  have  filled  the  boat  with  salmon ;  but  it  was  ille- 
gal as  well  as  dishonorable  to  catch  them  in  that  manner 
— he  wavered  but  a  moment,  and  then  with  a  sigh  lay 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  81 

down  the  spear  and  took  up  his  paddle,  the  greatest 
example  of  self-command  and  honest  sportsmanship  I 
ever  knew.  General  Washington,  when  he  refused  to  be 
king,  was  no  greater.  My  friend  was  not  rewarded  if  he 
did  not  sleep  happier  for  it  that  night  in  the  old  cabin  on 
the  shore  of  Lake  la  Yal ;  and  if  the  falling  pipe  of  the 
rotting  stove  that  nearly  crushed  his  head  had  killed 
him,  ha  would  have  died  virtuous,  respected  and  without 
reproach. 

Oh,  that  I  had  the  pen  of  Julius  Csesar,  Homer, 
Shak&peare,  or  even  Byron,  that  I  might  write  an  ode 
to  sapin,  the  balsam  fir-tree !  Tree  of  the  weary  woods- 
man, tree  of  the  luxurious  sportsman,  tree  of  all  men 
whom  the  drowsy  god  catches  in  the  woods  and  compels 
to  his  embraces !  A  bed  of  thy  leaves  is  softer  than  one 
of  eider-down,  and  far  more  comfortable.  A  prince 
might  sleep  on  thee  and  dream  he  was  in  paradise. 
Thou  preservest  us  from  colds,  from  rheumatism,  and  the 
many  ills  that  flow  from  the  evil  humors  of  the  cold 
ground.  Thy  leaves,  growing  in  one  direction  from  the 
stem,  will  lie  flat,  and  may  be  piled  to  any  depth — a  foot 
of  luxury,  as  in  our  permanent  camp — and  make  a  couch 
that  combines  the  softness  of  the  feather-bed  with  the 
firmness  of  the  mattress,  and  an  elasticity  purely  thy 
own.  To  thee,  and  to  thy  mate  the  hemlock,  and  thy 
associate  the  white  birch,  I  now,  far  from  thee,  waft,  in 
a  cloud  of  tobacco-smoke,  my  love.  Go  on,  increase  and 
wax  great ;  may  often  the  one  support  me  on  the  land, 
the  other  on  the  water ! 

When  the  next  morning's  sun  had  once  more  brought 
round  my  birthday,  the  thirty-first  that  had  ever  dawned, 

4* 


82  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

we  commemorated  the  fact  by  undertaking  to  descend 
the  La  Yal  from  the  outlet  to  our  home;  a  roundabout 
journey  of  some  fifteen  miles,  in  lieu  of  the  portage  of 
five.  It  was  to  be  a  final  test  of  the  depth  of  the  water, 
as  the  course  lay  over  bad  rapids  and  falls,  and  we 
entered  upon  the  journey  with  great  uncertainty.  Pack- 
ing our  temporary  bedding  in  a  water-proof  blanket,  our 
party  embarked  and  sped  gaily  along  for  the  firgt  mile 
or  two,  but  soon  found  the  bed  of  the  stream  one  mass 
of  huge  rocks,  over  which  the  canoe  had  to  be  driven 
with  sheer  force,  and  which  tore  and  strained  the  fragile 
bark  till  it  leaked  terribly. 

During  this  day  our  progress  was  necessarily  slow 
and  laborious,  and  to  relieve  ourselves  we  fished  continu- 
ally. The  trout  rose  beautifully — in  fact,  in  one  pool 
they  were  so  thick,  sweeping  round  in  shoate,  that  we 
grew  surfeited,  and  left  it  for  a  spot  where  they  were 
less  plenty.  Still  it  required  a  long  line  and  light  fly  to 
cull  the  largest — which  were  the  ones  we  sought — and 
skill  and  patience  to  land  them.  "We  might  have  taken 
hundreds  had  the  time  permitted,  or  our  canoe  been  in 
condition  to  carry  them ;  but  every  strain  had  increased 
the  leak  till  we  could  no  longer  keep  it  down  by  bailing, 
and  had  to  land  from  time  to  time  to  turn  the  water  out. 
In  fact,  it  was  a  wet  time  altogether ;  there  was  a  driz- 
zling rain,  the  canoe  was  three  inches  deep  with  water, 
we  had  both  been  wading  part  of  the  day,  and  had  so 
arranged  our  water-proof  blanket  that  it  projected  be- 
yond the  temporary  tent,  and  catching  all  the  water  that 
drained  off,  would  not  permit  it  to  soak  through,  but 
collected  a  miniature  Lake  la  Yal  in  the  middle  of  our 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  83 

bed.  I  being  the  heaviest,  had  the  most  of  it ;  but  by 
the  aid  of  a  blazing  fire,  I  slept  warm  and  comfortable 
till  the  morning  air  struck  me,  when  the  time  came  to 
rise,  and  sent  a  shiver  to  my  very  bones,  giving  me  at 
iirst  horrible  visions  of  consumption,  night-sweats  and 
early  death.  Our  tally  of  fish  taken  during  the  day 
amounted  to  fifty-three,  weighing  nearly  two  hundred 
pounds,  and  I  had  captured  the  greatest  weight  as  yet 
taken  at  one  cast,  landing  two  fish,  one  of  which  weighed 
two  and  the  other  three  pounds  and  a  half.  A  handsome 
present  the  river  gods  made  me  for  my  birthday ! 

The  next  day,  after  an  hour  had  been  spent  in  vainly 
trying  to  attract  the  salmon,  our  journey  was  continued 
to  the  camp,  the  river  as  we  descended  proving  worse, 
the  rocks  higher,  the  rapids  fiercer,  the  water  lower, 
our  canoe  frailer,  till  it  came  almost  to  dragging  the 
latter  over  the  bed  of  a  current  instead  of  floating  com- 
fortably along  its  surface.  All  hope  of  ascending  to  the 
head-waters  was  extinct,  the  rapids  above  the  lake  we 
knew  must  be  worse  than  those  below,  and  the  latter 
were  totally  impassable  for  a  loaded  canoe.  In  our 
despair,  we  fished  steadily  at  every  breathing  spell,  and 
might  have  taken  unlimited  numbers,  for  they  rose 
gloriously. 

While  walking  unconsciously  along,  separated  from 
my  companions,  I  was  fairly  startled  at  observing  what 
at  first  glance  seemed  to  be  a  female  figure  seated  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream  beneath  the  bank.  The 
impression  was  only  dissipated  by  a  close  inspection. 
The  rains  had  scooped  out  of  the  bank  a  dark  niche,  the 
edges  of  which  were  ornamented  with  vines  and  moss. 


84  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

and  in  it  was  seated  a  figure  of  clay,  worn  to  an  aston- 
ishing likeness  of  a  woman  with  a  gipsy  bonnet  on  her 
head.  •  She  appeared  to  be  seated,  and  her  bonnet,  its 
strings  and  her  dress,  were  accurately  imitated  by  the 
curling  white  birch  bark.  The  color  of  her  face  seemed 
dark  brunette,  set  off  by  the  birch  bonnet,  that  was 
brought  out  in  strong  relief  by  the  heavy  shadow  of  the 
background.  Altogether,  it  was  a  startling  apparition, 
and  conjured  up  to  my  eyes  the  wondrous  sights  of  the 
times  of  elfin,  power,  when  my  spectre  would  have  made 
a  most  perfect  wood  nymph. 

Whether  my  elf  gave  me  good  luck  or  not,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say,  but  we  caught  thirty-seven  magnificent  fish, 
and  after  a  hard  day's  work,  during  which  we  had  toiled 
at  the  canoe  and  waded  most  of  the  way,  the  camp  was 
no  unwelcome  sight.  It  required  Pierre's  best  culinary 
efforts  to  restore  our  spirits,  and  soothe  our  disappoint- 
ment at  being  unable  to  effect  a  further  ascent,  in  which 
our  worst  forebodings  were  confirmed  by  Jermain,  an 
additional  guide  who  had  followed  us,  and  who  reported 
from  his  Indian  friends  that  the  upper  stream  was  impass- 
able, the  water  being  a  foot  lower  than  was  ever  known 
before.  With  sad  hearts,  therefore,  the  council  of  war 
determined  that  advance  was  hopeless,  and  retreat  ine- 
vitable ;  even  our  splendid  sport  could  not  console  us. 

It  had  been  drizzling  all  day,  and  the  next  morning 
we  devoted  to  a  general  drying  of  wet  articles — the 
camp  looked  like  a  grand  clothes  washing  establishment, 
with  lines  stretched  from  tree  to  tree  round  a  bis;  fire, 

O  * 

and  hung  with  clothes.  I  took  some  seven  trout  for 
dinner,  but  otherwise  the  fi&h  had  a  rest  until  the  mor- 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  85 

row,  which  was  to  be  our  last  on  the  river,  when  we  cap- 
tured twenty-eight,  a  few  .of  which,  however,  did  not 
exceed  a  pound  and  a  half  in  weight. 

The  next  day  came,  and  good  bye  to  the  beautiful  La 
Val.  Slowly  and  sorrowfully  we  struck  our  tent,  sadly 
we  collected  together,  and  stowed  the  many  little  arti- 
cles that  the  occasion  had  hallowed  to  our  hearts.  With 
feelings  of  deep  regret  we  embarked,  and  looking  our 
last  look  at  the  camping-ground  that  had  been  our  home, 
commenced  a  descent  to  our  chaloupe.  As  there  were 
three  canoes,  and  only  five  canoemen,  including  my 
friend,  I  was  gladly  compelled  to  take  the  bow  of  one 
and  act  as  steersman.  Of  course  my  experience  was 
limited,  for,  with  the  exception  of  having  once  upset 
Walton  to  his  intense  disgust,  I  had  taken  little  active 
part  in  canoe  management,  and  having  for  my  stern-oar, 
Joe,  whose  only  idea  was  to  push  ahead  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, we  performed  manoeuvres  that  astonished 
more  than  they  delighted  our  associates.  Ours  was  the 
leaky  canoe  that  had  been  patched  up  with  gum  and  a 
piece  of  a  shirt  for  the  occasion,  and  being  utterly  reck- 
less of  it,  we  shot  down  rapids  and  leaped  over  rocks 
like  a  runaway  race-horse.  Wonderful  were  our  hair 
breadth  escapes;  the  rapid  water,  Joe  with  his  "Avances 
toujours"  gave  me  no  time  to  see  and  less  to  avoid  the 
half-hidden  dangers,  even  if  my  skill  had  been  equal  to 
the  task,  and  we  darted  along  amid  the  foaming  current, 
or  plunged  headlong  down  cataracts,  at  a  rate  and  in  a 
manner  that  would  have  surprised  a  locomotive  off  the 
track.  We  succeeded,  however,  in  keeping  straight  with 
the  current,  and  although  once  or  twice  our  destruction 


86  A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL. 

seemed  inevitable,  we  finally  arrived  safe,  though  in  a 
leaky  and  dilapidated  condition,  at  the  place  where  we  had 
anchored  our  chaloupe.  The  latter,  left  to  herself,  had 
been  trying  what  she  could  do  on  the  rocks,  and  had 
succeeded,  with  the  aid  of  a  falling  tide,  in  upsetting 
twice,  and  so  frightening  the  boy  in  charge  of  her  that 
he  had  fled  for  refuge  to  a  shanty,  which  providentially 
was  near  at  hand. 

Joe  had  taken  the  opportunity  during  our  last  day's 
fishing,  on  hearing  of  the  misfortunes  of  his  boat,  to 
remove  her  to  the  Sault  de  Cochon,  so  that  we  had  to 
paddle  about  two  miles  in  the  open  St.  Lawrence.  The 
river  was  over  twenty  miles  broad,  and,  under  the  influence 
of  a  southwesterly  wind,  was  so  rough  that  our  un- 
steady bark  danced,  tossed  and  rolled  about  uncommonly. 
I  could  no  longer  stand  up,  as  I  had  been  forced  to  do 
hitherto,  and  was  brought  to  my  knees  at  once,  while 
even  Joe  found  it  safer  to  sit  down  on  the  thwart.  No 
one  who  has  not  tried  it  can  imagine  what  a  canoe  is  in 
the  slightest  sea-way ;  it  appears  to  bob  from  under  you, 
and  rolls  and  dances  so  quickly  as  to  render  staying  in 
it  almost  impossible,  even  if  it  should  not  carry  out  its 
evident  design  to  turn  bottom  up.  Once  at  Sault  de 
Cochon  and  I  again  tried  the  fish,  having  taken,  on  the 
descent  of  the  La  Yal,  twelve,  and  was  rewarded  as  I 
deserved,  by  total  failure. 

The  wind  had  died  out,  the  water  lay  a  perfect  mirror, 
and,  crowding  down  into  the  narrow  cock-pit,  we  slept 
till  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  a  favoring  tide 
helped  us  slowly  along  toward  our  destination.  The 
night  passed,  and  the  next  day,  and  we  drifted  by  place 


A    TRIP    TO    THE    LA    VAL.  87 

after  place  that  we  passed  before  with  such  rapidity,  and 
sunset  again  found  us  only  thirty-three  miles  on  our  way. 
We  ran  into  a  little  bay  at  the  mouth  of  the  Escomain, 
where,  having  built  a  huge  fire  and  eaten  a  hearty  sup- 
per, we  slept,  on  a  bed  of  the  softest  pebble  stones, 
soundly  and  sweetly  till  the  first  grey  light  of  daybreak, 
when  we  continued  our  journey  along  a  coast  so  poor 
that  the  best  fed  hogs  are,  as  we  were  credibly  informed, 
light  and  weak  enough  to  be  blown  over  by  a  strong 
wind,  and  mill-stones,  to  say  nothing  of  the  miller, 
starve  for  want  of  grain. 

Again  the  hills  of  the  Saguenay  rise  to  our  view, 
Tadousac  rests  calmly  in  its  nook,  and  the  sun  shines  on 
the  white  houses  of  L'Anse  a  1'Eau  as  when  we  left. 
Our  trip  is  done.  The  La  Yal  will  live  in  our  memory 
as  long  as  we  can  cast  a  fly — aye,  and  when  gout  or  age 
shall  have  laid  us  on  the  shelf.  To  you,  my  friend,  the 
genial  companion  of  my  trip,  I  give  my  thanks ;  may  we 
meet  again,  and  once  more  stand  side  by  side  upon  some 
projecting  rock,  as  fish  after  fish  rises  to  our  fly.  May 
you  long  live  to  enjoy  the  sport  at  which  you  so  excel, 
and  may  you  leave  children  that  can  cast  a  fly  as  well. 
To  the  stately  St.  Lawrence,  to  the  magnificent  Sague- 
nay, to  the  beautiful  La  Yal,  a  long  farewell. 


88  THE    SALMON. 


CHAPTEK   Y. 

• 

THE    SALMON. 

Sdlmo  Solar. — This  celebrated  fish  is  totally  different 
in  appearance  from  the  trout,  having  decidedly  brilliant 
scales,  colored  bluish  black  down  to  the  lateral  line,  and 
beautiful  and  white  as  glistening  silver  below.  It  has 
on  the  gill-covers  and  upper  part  of  the  sides  occasion- 
ally dark  irregular  spots.  The  tail  is  more  forked,  and 
proportionally  more  expanded  than  that  of  the  trout, 
while  the  fish  is  of  a  more  slim  and  elegant  shape. 

The  branchial  rays  are  twelve,  and  the  fin-rays  are  as 
follows : 

D.  13.0  ;  P.  15 ;  Y.  9  ;  A.  9  .  C.  19f . 

These  splendid  and  valuable  fish,  whether  regarded  as 
an  object  of  the  sportsman's  skill  or  the  epicurean's 
taste,  though  once  abundant  in  our  State,  are  so  no  more. 
Hendrick  Hudson,  on  ascending  the  river  he  discovered, 
was  particularly  struck  with  their  immense  numbers, 
and  continually  mentions  the  "  great  stores  of  salmon." 
The  last  unhappy  fish  that  was  seen  in  the  Hudson  had 
his  adventurous  career  terminated  by  the  net,  near 
Troy,  in  the  year  1840.  The  rivers  flowing  into  Lake 
Ontario  abounded  with  them  even  until  a  recent  period, 
but  the  persistent  efforts  at  their  extinction  have  at  last 
prevailed,  and  except  a  few  stragglers  they  have  ceased 


THE    SALMON.  89 

from  out  our  waters.  The  willful,  stupid  obstinacy  in 
building  dams  without  fishways,  in  crowding  the  rivers 
with  nets,  and  neglecting  all  measures  for  their  protec- 
tion, have  annihilated  the  noblest  of  game  fish.  They 
are  now  only  to  be  found  in  Maine,  and  to  the  north- 
ward of  it.  The  rivers  of  Maine  are  no  longer  worth 
the  angler's  attention,  and  if  he  would  have  good  sport 
he  must  proceed  to  the- wilds  of  New  Brunswick  or 
Lower  Canada. 

In  the  wild  woods  of  those  famed  regions  they 
abound,  arid  there,  amid  the  solitude  of  nature,  in  its  pri- 
meval grandeur,  the  writer  has  cast  the  fly  over  thou- 
sands, has  lured  hundreds  from  their  hidden  depths,  and 
seen  myriads  moving  about  in  their  romantic  pools,  or 
darting  away  when  disturbed ;  has  waited,  casting 
patiently,  for  their  appearance ;  has  felt  the  vigor  of 
their  first  rush  ;  has  seen  them  leap,  maddened,  high  out 
of  water ;  has  experienced  all  the  variations  of  hope, 
the  exultation  of  success,  and,  alas !  the  agony  of  fail- 
ure. He  has  known  them  to  dart  away  resistlessly  down 
some  impassable  rapid,  and  leap  for  joy  as  they  broke 
his  frail  tackle,  and  he  has  seen  them  panting  with  the 
gaff  in  their  sides  and  the  dark  blood  streaming  over  their 
resplendent  scales,  as  his  quick-eyed  assistant  had  secured 
them  at  the  moment  the  hook  was  tearing  out.  Aye,  he 
once  had  the  good  luck  of  having  one  that  was  thrown 
out  of  water  by  the  blow,  the  hook  tearing  out  at  the 
same  time,  caught  on  the  gaff  ere  he  fell  back  into  the 
watery  grave  of  hope. 

The  glorious  sport !  Ye  delvers  after  the  ore  of  gold, 
hidden  as  it  seems  to  be  in  boxes  of  silk  or  bales  of  cot- 


90  THE    SALMON. 

ton,  in  bits  of  paper  or  leaves  of  ledgers ;  ye  weary 
crawlers  through  the  streets  of  mammon,  who  think  the 
world  is  bounded  by  the  four  walls  of  your  ambition ; 
ye  who  have  been  brought  up  to  work,  as  though  work 
were  the  aim  of  life  instead  of  the  means  of  its  improve- 
ment ;  ye  who  have  laid  up  a  few  hundred  for  some  pet 
dissipation,  a  visit  to  Saratoga  or  Newport,  or  a  fight 
with  the  tiger — that  man-eater — and  ye  who  must  watch 
every  day  over  your  accumulated  millions,  lest  a  penny 
slip  into  a  cranny  and  be  lost,  go  to  the  woods,  where 
you  will  be  surrounded  by  the  sombre  trees,  where  the 
rocks  will  be  your  companions  and  the  wind  whisper 
and  the  stream  prattle  to  you.  There  you  will  learn 
how  little  it  takes  to  render  man  comfortable  and  happy, 
how  but  for  his  reckless  passions  and  extravagant  desires 
all  might  be  satisfied  and  plenty  crown  the  human  race. 
There,  where  nature  speaks  to  you  in  her  beauty,  in  her 
grandeur,  and  occasionally  in  her  stupendous  power ; 
where  the  wonders  of  the  universe  by  day  and  night  are 
ever  presenj,  like  old  friends  ;  where  there  is  naught  but 
the  thin  air  between  the  Maker  and  his  beings,  you  may 
learn  what  will  be  more  valuable  some  day  than  any 
treasure  of  gold  or  silver.  Breathe  the  pure  air,  shake 
off  every  ill  that  flesh  is  heir  to  ;  add  to  your  life,  if  you 
love  it  so  well,  a  week  for  each  day,  and  that  a  day  of 
never  wearying  enjoyment.  Take  rod  and  gun,  aspire 
to  cast  the  line  far  and  straight  and  light,  feel  the  strug- 
gle of  patience,  perseverance,  skill,  resolution,  with  brute 
strength  and  cunning ;  know  the  pleasurable  anxiety  of 
the  chase,  the  alternate  hope  and  fear,  and  the  final 
glory  of  success.  Learn  the  woodsman's  art,  the  "  gentle 


THE    SALMON.  91 

ift  of  venerie,"  and  wonder  at  the  resources  of  the 

Iderness,  and  on  your  return  thank  me  not,  if  you  can. 
>ut  that  you  may  do  it  well,  read  the  following  prosy 
instructions  carefully,  for  if  they  be  not  entertaining 
they  be  useful. 

The  rod  for  salmon  fishing  should  be  from  sixteen  to 
twenty  feet  long  ;  one  of  sixteen,  or  even  fifteen,  if  well 
made  and  elastic,  will  answer.  It  must  be  strong  and 
stiff,  but  not  too  heavy,  and  the  further  it  will  cast  the 
greater  will  be  the  success.  Salmon  are  more  wary  than 
trout ;  if  they  see  a  horrible,  ill-shapen  being,  like  man, 
lashing  at  them  with  a  long  whip,  they  lie  close  to  the 
bottom,  and  it  is  only  by  keeping  well  out  of  sight,  and 
never  disturbing  or  approaching  the  pool,  that  they  can 
be  tempted.  A  short  rod,  though  it  may  be  capable  of 
casting  the  requisite  distance,  will  not  give  sufficient 
command  nor  enable  the  angler  to  lift  the  fly  with 
facility. 

The  fly  must  be  cast  straight,  light,  and  as  far  as  pos- 
sible ;  it  must  be  put  exactly  upon  the  right  ripple,  and 
must  fall  like  a  snow-flake ;  it  should,  if  the  water 
is  still,  be  allowed  to  sink  a  few  inches  and  then  drawn 
up  to  and  along  the  surface  a  foot  or  so,  again  allowed  to 
sink,  and  so  on  till  it  is  raised  for  another  cast.  It  is  not 
moved  as  rapidly,  nor  with  precisely  the  same  tremulous 
motion  as  in  trout  fishing.  Often  a  long  time  passes 
before  a  fish,  no  matter  how  plenty  they  may  be,  will 
rise  ;  and  when  he  does  come,  it  is  as  often  to  play  with 
and  slap  at  the  fly  as  to  take  it.  Nothing  is  more  pro- 
vokingly  exciting  than  to  have  a  magnificent  fish  rush 
again  and  again  at  your  fly,  leap  over  and  around  it, 


92  THE    SALMON. 

break  near  it  or  strike  at  it  with  his  tail,  without,  how- 
ever, showing  the  slightest  desire  to  take  it  in  his  mouth. 

A  fish  hooked  foul,  though  he  gives  a  great  deal  of 
trouble,  and  often  breaks  the  tackle,  does  not  afford  half 
the  legitimate  sport  of  one  that  has  the  hook  in  the 
mouth. 

When  fish  are  playing  thus,  and  it  is  fully  determined 
that  they  will  not  take  the  allurement  presented  them, 
no  matter  how  attractive,  it  becomes  necessary  to  substi- 
tute another,  and  continue  so  doing  till  their  dainty  pal- 
ates are  satisfied. 

When  they  finally  take  hold,  have  a  care  for  their  first 
rush  ;  the  pain,  if  pain  they  feel,  or  astonishment,  drives 
them  wild,  and  they  dash  and  fling  themselves  about, 
leap  out  of  water,  and  carry  on  generally  in  a  manner  to 
surprise  weak  nerves.  Finding  their  efforts  to  escape 
vain,  they  will  dart  down  the  nearest  rapids,  and  here 
they  must  be  followed  if  the  water  is  too  shallow  for  the 
canoe,  by  the  angler,  with  the  agility  of  the  antelope. 
He  must  have  feet,  hands,  and  eyes  for  everything.  The 
fish  must  be  guided  through  the  safest  current,  the  line 
kept  clear  of  rocks,  while  the  angler  must  pursue  his 
course  through  pools  and  over  ledges  and  bowlders,  slip- 
pery with  the  water,  and  requiring  the  sureness  of  foot 
of  the  chamois.  On,  on  he  must  go,  regardless  of  falls 
or  bruises,  his  reel  making  sweet  music  to  the  uncoiling 
line,  keeping  within  sight  of  his  prey  till  the  latter 
reaches  the  next  pool  or  resting-place.  After  an  hour's 
struggle  in  this,  he  may  take  down  another  rapid  in  the 
same  vigorous  style.  In  these  descents  the  angler  will 
find  his  gaff,  if  shod  with  iron,  a  great  convenience  in 


THE    SALMON.  93 

steadying  his  steps,  and  heavy  shoes  with  iron  nails 
will  in  a  measure  prevent  his  slipping  and  will  obviate 
stone  bruises,  although  they  are  apt  to  break  the 
delicate  knees  of  the  canoe,  and  should  be  removed 
before  getting  into  one,  and  moccasins  or  slippers  sub- 
stituted. There  is  a  well  authenticated  story  of  one  fish 
that  was  struck  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening,  followed 
down  through  three  rapids,  and  finally  lost  at  half-past 
ten  o'clock  that  evening. 

Salmon  will  sulk,  remaining  motionless  at  the  bottom 
for  a  long  time  after  they  are  wearied  with  an  unsuc- 
cessful struggle,  and  must  be  aroused  with  pebbles,  bear- 
ing on  the  line,  or  in  some  other  way.  Many  of  the 
pools  in  the  Canadian  waters  have  been  worn  out  of  clay 
banks,  and  their  sides  under  water  are  often  perpendicu- 
lar or  overhanging.  When  the  fish  sulks  in  one  of  these, 
the  line  cuts  into  the  edge  of  this  bank,  and  is  of  course 
broken  to  pieces  by  the  first  rush. 

Gentleness  will  do  much  with  fish,  as  with  other  rea- 
sonable beings,  and  a  friend  of  mine  saved  a  number  in 
a  pool  above  an  impassable  rapid,  where  other  anglers 
had  pronounced  fishing  impracticable,  by  striking  and 
handling  the  fish  with  extreme  delicacy  till  they  were 
led  to  the  head  of  the  pool  away  from  the  dangerous 
neighborhood. 

There  is  no  superlative  salmon  line  made ;  the  best, 
probably,  plaited  silk,  tapered  and  covered  with  a  prepa- 
ration to  exclude  the  water ;  but  that  in  general  use  is 
of  hair  and  silk  plaited  or  twisted — a  combination  that, 
as  we  elsewhere  remark,  is  by  no  means  advantageous  ; 
a  plain  hair  line  is  preferred  by  careful  anglers,  and  sim- 


94:  THE    SALMON. 

pie  silk  will  answer.  The  leader  should  be  of  single  gut, 
if  round  and  strong,  and  may  be  colored  in  tea.  Double 
gut  will  break  the  rod  but  not  save  the  fish.  The  flies, 
contrary  to  the  received  opinion  in  Europe,  should  be 
dark,  especially  clarets  and  browns,  above  all  the  impal- 
pable "fiery  brown,"  and  of  rather  a  small  size,  with  a 
few  larger  for  rough  water.  The  reel  should  be  large 
enough  to  carry  two  hundred  yards  of  line,  although 
with  activity  and  a  hundred  an  angler  may  make  out. 

As  for  the  number  of  fish,  even  in  the  best  streams, 
those  who  read  Lanmann  must  receive  his  statements 
with,  to  use  a  moderate  term,  some  allowance.  Ten  or 
twelve  fish  in  the  course  of  a  day  is  excellent  luck,  and 
will  keep  the  angler  sufficiently  occupied  and  excited, 
but  the  average  good  fishing  through  the  season  is  not 
half  that  number,  and  there  are  many  blank  days.  The 
upper  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  furnishes  the  largest 
fish,  but  New  Brunswick  the  most  abundant.  The  rivers 
in  the  former  are  mostly  leased  to  individuals  by  the 
government,  and  of  course  closed  to  the  public  excejrt 
by  the  consent  of  the  lessees.  That  famous  association 
called  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  a  kingdom  within  a 
kingdom,  until  a  few  years  ago,  were  sole  proprietors  of 
fishing  rights,  but  having  taken  pains  worthy  of  our 
emulation  to  destroy  the  fish,  the  government  curtailed 
their  privileges,  and  passed  stringent  laws  and  regula- 
tions, which  are  set  out  in  the  appendix,  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  fish. 

The  rivers  of  New  Brunswick  are  still  free.  The 
fly-fishing  in  Canada  lasts  till  the  first  day  of  Sep- 
tember, and  in  New  Brunswick  till  the  fifteenth ;  but 


THE    SALMON.  95 

the  net  fishing  terminates  earlier,  and  in  Canada  aU 
spearing  or  fishing  by  torchlight  is  stringently  forbidden. 
These  laws  are,  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  us,  enforced 
with  commendable  energy  in  Canada,  though  in  New 
Brunswick  our  mode  of  letting  the  people  override  the 
laws  prevails. 

The  best  river  in  New  Brunswick  beyond  all  com- 
parison, is  the  Nipisiquit,  emptying  in  the  Bay  of  Cha- 
leurs,  and  near  it  are  several  almost  as  excellent.  In 
Lower  Canada  the  Mingan,  the  Moisie,  the  Busamite 
stand  preeminent,  but  have  many  rivals.  Directions  for 
reaching  them  have  been  given  under  the  head  cf  sea 
trout  fishing,  but  instead  of  taking  a  sail-boat,  as  there 
suggested,  from  any  port  on  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  the 
same  might  be  clone  either  from  Bathurst  or  Prince 
Edward's  Island,  both  of  which  are  nearer  the  lower 
streams. 

There  are  many  excellent  rivers  on  the  coast  of  Labra- 
dor as  far  as  the  Straits  of  Belie  Isle,  or  even  farther,  and 
they  would  be  well  worth  a  visit,  either  in  one  of  our 
clipper  yachts  or  in  a  fast  schooner.  Many  are  entirely 
beyond  the  realms  of  civilization,  and  a  pleasant  party 
might  have  a  glorious  time  and  abundant  sport. 

It  would  be  necessary  to  take  canoemen  and  canoes, 
or  what  is  strongly  recommended,  small,  light  flat-boats 
that  can  be  rowed  or  poled  by  one  man,  and  which  can 
be  purchased  for  five  dollars  apiece  at  most  of  the  gulf 
seaports. 

Arm  yourself,  then,  with  two  good  salmon  rods  ;  they 
may  be  so  made  us  to  constitute  a  trout  rod  as  well,  not 
by  any  means  one  of  those  detestable  nondescripts  called 


96  THE    SALMON.  » 

a  general  rod,  but  two  rods  distinct  with  joints  fitting  to 
each  other.  Take  with  you  two  good  lines,  plenty  of 
flies,  extra  gut  and  hooks,  leaders  and  feathers,  and  a 
strong  hook  gaff,  but  not  that  dangerous,  unwieldy 
instrument  called  a  spring  gaff.  Thus  equipped,  go  forth 
conquering  and  to  conquer,  and  may  good  luck  attend 
you.  Seek  any  of  the  rivers  we  shall  name,  ascend 
them  in  your  fragile  canoe,  station  yourself  early  in  the 
morning  or  at  the  approach  of  evening,  choose  your  best 
fly,  keep  well  out  of  view,  cast  far  and  light,  and  may 
you  many  and  many  a  time  be  rewarded  with  the  fierce 
rush  of  the  mighty  salmon,  his  struggle  and  final  con- 
quest, and  may  your  sleep  be  sound  and  your  heart  at 
rest  amid  nature's  primeval  hills.  May  the  black  flies 
and  mosquitoes  spare  you,  may  the  sand-fly  not  find  you 
out,  may  the  heat  be  tempered  to  you  by  day  and  the 
cold  by  night,  may  you  not  lose  your  footing  too  often, 
nor  fall  too  hard,  and  may  your  fish  be  the  largest, 
strongest  and  bravest  that  ever  were  taken.  May  you 
receive  that  mercy  which  you  show,  never  drawing  one 
drop  of  useless  blood,  nor  causing  one  unnecessary  pang. 
The  aid  of  all  good  men  and  true  is  needed  both  by 
precept  and  example,  to  save  the  tenants  of  the  water 
from  final  extermination.  By  putting  restraint  upon 
ourselves,  never  being  guilty  of  wanton  slaughter,  by 
steadily  urging  measures  for  the  preservation  of  the 
game,  and  by  invariably  obeying  and  compelling  others 
to  obey  such  laws  as  should  be  passed,  we  may  be  able  to 
leave  to  our  children  a  heritage  of  pleasure  that  bountiful 
nature  has  abundantly  provided  for  ourselves.  ISTo  fish 
are  more  defenceless  and  more  readily  destroyed  than 


THE    SALMON.  97 

trout  and  salmon  ;  there  are  certain  prerequisites  to  the 
continuance  of  the  species  that  must  be  complied  with. 
The  fish  must  ascend  to  the  fresh  water  to  spawn,  and  if 
prevented  by  an  improperly  constructed  dam,  will  quit 
the  locality  never  to  return. 

It  should  be  known  that,  contrary  to  the  usually 
received  opinion,  salmon  cannot  surmount  a  fall  of  much 
over  ten  feet ;  this,  probably,  is  the  full  extent  of  their 
powers.  And  in  effecting  this,  much  depends  upon  the 
depth  of  water  at  its  foot ;  the  deeper  it  is  the  higher 
they  can  leap.  They  do  not  take  their  tails  in  their 
mouths,  according  to  the  ancient  theory,  to  enable  them 
to  spring  higher,  but  rush  with  their  utmost  velocity 
from  the  bottom,  and  are  carried  by  their  momentum  a 
considerable  distance  out  of  water.  Such  a  leap  or  a 
struggle  against  strong  rapids  weakens  them,  and  they 
must  soon  rest  to  recover  strength  for  another  ascent. 
They  thus  congregate  below  each  fall,  and  often  make 
many  efforts  before  they  overcome  it.  They  usually 
move  at  night  or  early  in  the  morning.  A  dam  of  fif- 
teen or  twenty  feet  will  effectually  exclude  them  from 
any  stream,  but  may  be  rendered  innocuous  at  small 
expense  by  placing  below  the  wasteway  boxes  of  heavy 
wood,  with  a  fall  of  not  over  five  feet  from  one  to  the 
other.  A  salmon  leaps  from  the  river  to  the  first,  from 
that  to  the  next,  and  so  on  till  he  has  overcome  the 
barrier.  A  broad  sluiceway  leading  at  a  moderate 
angle  to  the  pool  below,  will  probably  answer  as  well. 
The  fish,  as  they  enter  the  rivers,  may  be  deterred 
)m  entering,  or  all  captured  in  nets  spread  entirely 
>ss  the  mouth,  and  when  those  that  do  pass  have 

5 


98  THE    SALMON. 

reached  the  spawning  beds,  they  are  peculiarly  exposed 
to  the  cruel  spear.  At  night,  by  this  instrument,  with 
the  aid  of  flambeaux,  hundreds  may  be  killed  and  many 
more  wounded  and  left  to  perish  miserably.  If  they  are 
to  continue  in  reasonable  numbers,  nets  must  not  be  set 
close  together,  the  spawning  beds  must  be  undisturbed, 
and  the  murderous  spear  utterly  prohibited.  "With 
these  precautions  and  a  regulation  concerning  the  sized 
mesh  that  is  used,  this  valuable  source  of  pleasure,  health 
and  profit  may  not  only  be  retained  but  indefinitely 
augmented;  without  such  care  the  day  is  not  far  off 
when  "  the  places  that  knew  them  will  know  them  no 
more,"  when  their  bright  sides  will  no  longer  gleam 
beneath  the  waves  or  glisten  as  they  gambol  in  the  sun- 
light, when  the  nets  will  cease  to  yield  a  return,  when 
the  fishermen,  longing  regretfully  for  their  most  valuable 
prize,  will  find  their  occupation  gone,  and  honest  and 
dishonest,  fair  fisherman  and  sneaking  poacher,  alike  be 
overwhelmed  in  one  common-  ruin.  Surely  we  have  too 
much  good  sense,  too  much  public  spirit,  too  much 
energy  and  determination  to  submit  to  such  a  calamity  ; 
let  us  unite,  then,  in  repressing  unseasonable  and  unlaw- 
ful fishing,  in  preserving  and  protecting  the  fish,  and  in 
restoring  rivers  that  have  been  exhausted. 

In  the  salt  water,  salmon  never  take  the  fly,  and  rarely 
bait  of  any  kind,  although  they  feed  on  sand  eels  and 
small  fish  in  addition  to  shell-fish ;  but  as  they  advance 
into  brackish  or  fresh  water,  they  either  miss  their  natu- 
ral food  and  become  hungry,  or  get  accustomed  to  feed- 
ing on  grasshoppers  and  insects,  and  are  deceived  by  the 
artificial  fly,  and  will  at  times  take  the  bait. 


THE    SALMON.  99 

"When  they  leave  the  salt  water,  the  sea-lice  that  have 
fastened  to  them  fall  off,  frequently  to  be  replaced  by 
fresh-water  parasites,  and  this  is  sometimes  given  as  the 
reason  for  their  leaving  the  sea  so  early  in  the  year, 
although  they  do  not  spawn  till  the  Fall.  While  spawn- 
ing they  are  unfit  to  eat,  and  after  the  operation  are 
utterly  exhausted.  In  this  condition,  when  returning  to 
the  sea,  they  are  termed  kelts,  the  male  being  distin- 
guished as  a  kipper  and  the  female  as  a  baggit.  As  the 
spawning  season  approaches,  a  curious  cartilaginous 
hook  grows  from  the  lower  jaw,  which  is  supposed  to  be 
a  provision  of  nature  to  prevent  an  unfortunate  termina- 
tion to  the  many  desperate  contests  between  the  males 
at  that  period. 

The  habits  of  salmon  are  by  no  means  determined; 
in  fact,  little  is  known  positively  about  them.  It  has 
been  even  suggested  that  grilse  are  a  distinct  species, 
although  it  is  hardly  doubted  with  us  but  they  are  young 
salmon.  Their  times  of  visiting  the  fresh  water  are 
subject  to  peculiar  individual  exceptions;  in  fact,  it  may 
be  said  there  are  two  opinions  among  fishermen,  and 
persons  who  have 'watched  salmon  for  twenty  and  thirty 
years  assert  that  some  are  ascending  while  others  are 
descending.  Izaak  Walton  says  that  salmon  spawn  in 
August,  which  is  directly  contrary  to  the  views  of  other 
English  writers,  and  certainly  not  in  accordance  with  the 
practice  of  our  fish.  Others  again  say  they  return  to 
the  salt  water  in  September,  and  reascend  the  rivers 
later  in  the  Fall.  The  young  in  all  stages  have  been 
disputed  over,  and  called  by  divers  names,  such  as  pinks, 
smolts,  parr,  brandling,  samlet,  peal,  grilse,  until  one 


100  THE    SALMON. 

hardly  knows  what  sort  of  fish  he  really  has  captured. 
Every  writer  has  his  theory,  and  the  following  is  mine  ; 
it  may  be  true  or  not,  but  the  statements  of  fact  are. 

Salmon  are  never  found  in  our  rivers  except  in  three 
stages  :  First,  a  little  fish  much  like  a  trout,  but  with  a 
larger  eye  and  richer  colors ;  they  have  no  blue  spots,  but 
have  darker  bands  on  their  sides  ;  they  weigh  from  half 
an  ounce  to  half  a  pound.  Second,  the  grilse,  which  is 
precisely  like  a  salmon,  except  that  it  weighs  from  two 
and  a  half  to  six  pounds.  Third,  the  salmon,  which 
weighs  from  eight  to  eighty  pounds.  Salmon  first  appear 
in  the  fresh  water  about  the  10th  of  June,  and  grilse  a 
month  later.  The  main  run  of  the  former  is  from  June 
15th  to  August  1 5th  in  New  Brunswick,  and  from  June 
10th  to  July  20th  in  Canada.  The  explanation  of  this 
difference  is  simple:  the  Canadian  fish  are  much  the 
largest,  averaging  double  the  size  of  their  more  southern 
brethren,  and  as  the  waters  fall  during  the  hot  months 
of  Summer,  they  must  ascend  earlier  than  smaller  fish, 
and  before  the  spring  freshets  have  entirely  subsided,  or 
they  would  never  reach  the  high  waters  at  all.  Strag- 
gling fish,  however,  are  running  up  at  all  seasons,  early 
and  late,  and  a  few  probably  remain  in  the  fresh  water 
the  entire  year,  or  descend  only  when  they  are  sickened 
by  a  lengthened  residence  in  an  unchanged  element. 
Salmon  do  not  spawn  in  Summer,  but  in  Winter,  com- 
mencing not  earlier,  and  often  later,  than  October ;  the 
fish  that  ascend  last  probably  spawn  last.  Then  they 
return  to  the  sea;  but  not  at  once,  some  remaining  under 
the  ice  through  the  Winter,  others  going  immediately. 
My  theory,  therefore,  is  that  the  young  fish,  whether  you 


THE    SALMON.  101 

call  them  fry,  or  pinks,  or  smolts,  or  peal,  go  to  the  sea 
usually  a  year  after  their  birth,  but  with  no  invariable 
regularity,  and  will  then  average  six  ounces  in  weight, 
many  undoubtedly  waiting  till  the  Fall,  or  eighteen 
months  after  birth;  that  they  return  the  succeeding 
July  grilse  ;  that  the  grilse  spawn  the  following  Novem- 
ber, and  after  visiting  the  sea,  reappear  next  Spring  as 
salmon.  The  young  fish  are  taken  with  the  fly  through 
the  Summer  in  all  the  salmon  rivers,  and  require  a  second 
glance  to  distinguish  them  from  young  trout,  although 
they  are  very  different,  one  decisive  peculiarity  being 
that  their  backs  are  arched  or  hogged,  and  another,  as  I 
have  mentioned,  that  their  eyes  are  large.  The  fry  of 
trout — and  recollect  grown  trout  are  not  banded — have 
light  sides,  and  are  found  usually  in  more  quiet  water. 
It  would  be  well  if  sportsmen  should  call  the  fish  in 
question  respectively  salmon  fry,  grilse,  and  salmon,  and 
eschew  all  other  fanciful  names,  as  leading  only  to  con- 
fusion. 

Salmon  are  never  .taken  in  fresh  water  with  any  food 
in  their  stomachs;  they  are  reported  not  to  eat  their 
young,  and  do  not  apparently  feed  on  flies.  The  fry 
feed  almost  entirely  on  flies,  and  I  have  seen  them  pick 
off  one  after  another  as  skillfully  as  a  trout ;  but  I  have 
never  distinctly  seen  a  salmon  take  a  natural  fly.  When 
they  spring  out  of  water,  it  is  in  play,  and  at  such  times, 
contrary  to  the  rule  with  trout,  casting  over  them  will 
be  in  vain,  they  will  not  rise.  Moreover,  our  flies  do  not 
in  the  least  resemble  the  natural  flies  of  the  rivers,  which 
are  of  a  dull  green,  and  the  salmon  rivers  afford  very 
few  flies  at  best.  Observe  me,  I  do  not  refer  to  mosqui- 


102  THE    SALMON. 

toes  or  black  gnats,  at  neither  of  which  would  gentle- 
manly fish  deign  to  look.  My  theory,  therefore,  is,  that 
salmon  do  not  feed  during  the  spawning  season,  but  are 
supported  by  the  animalculse  in  the  water,  and  have  poor 
commons  at  that,  as  their  miserable  condition  soon  testi- 
fies. Many  varieties  of  fish  live  without  apparent  food, 
often  with  the  additional  disadvantage  of  infrequent 
change  of  water,  as  goldfish  in  a  globe. 

When  salmon  first  arrive  in  the  harbors,  they  coast 
along  the  shore,  and  are  then  taken  in  nets,  which  are 
required  by  law  to  have  a  mesh  too  large  to  capture 
grilse ;  later,  they  leave  the  warm  shallows,  and  follow 
the  cooler  channel  beyond  the  nets,  which  are  only  per- 
mitted to  extend  a  certain  distance.  The  tide-water 
fishing  is  therefore  practically  over  by  the  1st  of  August. 
Net  fishing  above  the  salt  water  is  forbidden,  or  at  least 
subject  to  the  same  restrictions,  which,  if  they  were 
enforced,  would  almost  put  an  end  to  it ;  but,  discredit- 
able as  it  may  seem,  and  short-sighted  as  such  conduct 
unquestionably  is,  this  law  is  totally  disregarded  in  many 
rivers,  where  of  course  the  fish  are  rapidly  diminishing. 
They  spawn  over  gravelly  flats  and  pools,  covering  up 
the  ova  after  impregnation,  and  then  descend  slowly, 
greatly  emaciated,  ugly  and  woe-begone,  to  the  sea.  At 
such  times,  although  they  will  still  take  the  fly,  they  are 
unfit  to  eat,  and  while  they  notwithstanding  frequently 
fall  a  victim  to  the  cruel  spear  of  the  murderous  savage, 
no  true  angler  nor  honest  man  will  harm  them. 

Casting  the  fly  gracefully  and  effectively  is  a  peculiar 
art,  hard  to  acquire,  and  picturesque  to  witness ;  it  is 
altogether  different  from  slashing  the  water,  and  almost 


THE    SALMON.  103 

as  difficult  of  mastery  as  the  corresponding  science 
of  trout  fishing.  The  rod,  being  long  and  compara- 
tively heavy,  must  be  held  in  both  hands,  which  are 
changed  occasionally  so  as  to  alternate  that  at  the  but, 
and  teach  the  angler  to  cast  over  either  shoulder.  The 
line  is  lengthened  to  the  proper  distance,  is  raised  with 
a  springing  jerk,  swung  out  straight  behind,  and  then 
again  cast  forward  with  the  same  springy  motion.  The 
work  has  to  be  done  with  the  tip,  which,  except  in  cast- 
ing against  the  wind,  must  be  kept  as  elevated  as  possi- 
ble. The  stiffer  the  rod  the  more  command  the  angler 
has  over  his  line  in  avoiding  the  rocks  and  making  the 
best  of  awkward  places ;  but  this  is  counterbalanced  by 
the  disadvantages  of  excessive  weight  and  a  stiffness  in 
striking  that  frequently  breaks  the  casting  line.  A  rod 
will  cast  four  times  its  length  beyond  the  tip ;  one  of 
sixteen  feet,  therefore,  will  cast  sixty-four  feet  of  line, 
ordinarily  abundant ;  and  although  one  of  twenty  feet 
will  cover  sixteen  more  feet,  unless  it  is  made  of  cedar  it 
is  uncomfortably  heavy.  A  cedar  rod  would  be  perfec- 
tion, but  it  is  not  to  be  trusted  in  the  hands  of  a 
bungler. 

When  there  is  any  current,  and  it  is  rare  to  take 
salmon  elsewhere,  the  fly  is  cast  across  the  stream  and 
allowed  to  swing  over  the  fish,  which  invariably  lie  with 
their  heads  up-stream.  When  a  salmon  intends  to  rise, 
he  generally  separates  himself  from  his  companions  and 
waits  till  the  fly  approaches  to  the  precise  distance  that 
pleases  him.  Then 

"  Strike  for  your  altars  and  your  homes," 


104  THE  SALMON. 

not  too  hard,  but  as  quick  as  the  lightning  from  the 
sky,  and  this  although  contrary  to  the  English  hooks,  on 
the  ground  that  a  salmon,  if  he  rises  once  and  fails  to 
touch  the  fly,  will  always  come  again.  If,  however,  he 
has  tasted  the  unappetizing  morsel,  and  has  not  been 
hooked,  for  he  is  quick  to  spit  it  out,  you  will  see  him  no 
more.  If  you  fail  to  hook  a  fish  on  the  first  rise,  it  is 
well  if  you  can  keep  your  impatience  under  control,  to 
rest  him  by  casting  elsewhere  a  few  times,  and  if  you 
fail  to  strike  him  on  the  third  rise,  change  your  fly. 
Salmon  are  extremely  particular  and  dainty  in  their 
tastes,  and  it  is  never  advisable  to  fish  too  long  with  one 
fly  unless  they  take  it  well. 

The  great  rules  are — keep  out  of  sight,  change  your 
flies  and  rest  the  pools.  The  best  time  of  a  clear  day  is 
early  and  late,  and  in  the  midday  heat  not  a  boat  nor  a 
line  should  disturb  the  water ;  in  fact,  a  pool  that  a 
canoe  has  crossed  is  ruined  for  the  day,  and  when  there 
is  no  rising,  there  is  little  good  in  casting.  A  pool  that 
is  not  disturbed  at  night  would  be  found  much  better,  as 
a  consequence,  in  the  morning. 

But  after  your  fish  is  hooked,  after  he  is  played  and 
almost  played  out,  after  you  have  exhausted  him,  and 
brought  him  skillfully  and  carefully  to  shore,  he  is  not 
yet  in  the  pot ;  nor  will  he  be  unless  you  have  an  assis- 
tant expert  with  the  gaflf.  There  are  all  sorts  of  direc- 
tions about  this  important  operation,  some  authors  saying 
a  fish  must  be  gaffed  in  the  shoulder,  others  preferring 
the  tail,  some  the  belly,  and  some  the  back,  but,  in  fact, 
one  place  is  as  good  another ;  the  main  points  are  not  to 
miss  nor  graze  him,  and  not  to  jerk  so  hard  as  to  throw 


THE    SALMON.  105 

him  off  the  gaff.  To  prevent  this,  where  you  anticipate 
finding  only  awkward  aids,  it  is  well  to  carry  a  gaff  with 
a  small  barb,  like  an  ordinary  hook.  I  have  had  the 
indescribable  pleasure  of  seeing  my  fish  flung  across 
the  boat,  and  dropped  in  the  water  on  the  other  side. 
The  moment  the  fish  is  struck,  the  handle  should  be  held 
perpendicular,  so  that  he  cannot  flounce  off. 

The  best  size  for  this  implement  is  a  length  of  nine 
inches  from  the  end  of  the  shank  to  the  middle  of  the 
bend,  from  the  latter  four  inches  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
point,  which  should  be  delicate  and  sharp,  and  at  least 
two  inches  and  three-eighths  from  the  inner  edge  of  the 
shank  opposite ;  the  bend  shonld  swell  out  so  as  to  be 
three  inches  across  at  its  widest,  and  the  end  of  the 
shank  must  be  bent  back  and  sharpened ;  the  steel  tapers 
gradually  from  the  point  to  a  thickness  of  one  quarter 
of  an  inch.  Being  nothing  more  than  a  large  hook,  it 
is  easily  carried,  and  when  wanted  for  use,  fastened  to 
any  suitable  stick  by  driving  in  the  projection  on  the 
shank,  and  winding  the  whole  with  stout  cord.  For  very 
large  salmon,  a  stronger  and  larger  gaff  would  be  desir- 
able, and  for  grilse  a  smaller  one. 

"When  fish  run,  and  throw  themselves  out  of  water, 
some  writers  direct  you  to  taughten  your  line  ;  but  I  say, 
heed  them  not.  Your  line  is  well  out  and  sunk  to  some 
distance,  the  very  jump  of  the  fish  will  consequently 
bring  a  great  strain  on  the  hook,  without  your  aid,  and 
many  a  fish  is  lost  by  such  usage.  On  the  contrary,  if 
you  give  to  him  as  he  leaps,  you  diminish  the  tension, 
and  then  the  quicker  you  take  up  the  line  after  he  has 
fallen  back,  the  better.  If,  on  the  contrary,  when  hQ 

5* 


106  THE    SALMON. 

leaps  he  is  near  by  you,  and  your  line  straight  and  out 
of  water,  he  will  try  and  strike  it  with  his  tail  to  break 
it,  in  which  he  may  also  be  foiled  by  giving  to  him. 
My  experience  is  to  this  effect,  and  you  will  soon  find 
out,  if  the  fish  are  large  and  strong,  how  hard  it  is  to  do 
otherwise. 

It  has  been  said  that  four  times  the  length  of  the  rod 
beyond  the  tip  is  the  utmost  length  of  line  that  can  be 
handled  with  dexterity  ;  it  is  not  meant  that  more  can- 
not be  cast,  for  I  have  often  cast  five  times  the  length, 
but  with  an  effort  that  soon  becomes  wearisome,  and,  if 
across  a  rapid  current,  without  the  requisite  command. 
It  is  best  to  fish  down  stream,  if  possible,  as  otherwise 
your  line  sinks,  and  even  in  fishing  across  there  will  be 
considerable  slack  line.  This  is  a  second  reason  for 
rapid  striking.  There  is  another  mode  of  managing  a 
line,  which  is  sometimes  called  casting,  and  by  which  a 
distance  of  eighty  yards  can  be  covered.  The  angler  has 
a  rod  as  thick  at  the  tip  as  one's  little  finger,  and  a  hair 
line  as  thick  as  the  tip.  Of  course  no  reel  can  be  used, 
as  such  a  line  would  not  run  through  the  rings,  or  be 
contained  on  the  barrel.  The  line  tapers  regularly  to  the 
fly.  It  is  usually  used  in  rapid  water,  and  to  cast,  the 
fisherman  waives  his  rod  from  side  to  side,  lifting  as 
much  of  it  as  possible  clear  of  the  water,  and  then 
throws  out  strongly  with  an  underhand  motion.  The 
line  rolls,  as  it  were,  raising  itself  from  the  water,  as  the 
impetus  advances,  till  the  fly  is  taken  up  and  jerked  over, 
so  to  speak,  at  an  incredible  distance.  When  a  fish  is 
struck  he  is  drawn  in  by  hand.  I  have  not  tried  this 
proceeding  sufjiciently  to  speak  positively,  but  think  that 


THE    SALMON.  107 

the  heavy  waxed  lines  now  in  general  use  would  answer 
to  a  comparative  degree.  It  is  a  difficult  though  not 
refined  mode  of  fishing,  and  is  the  only  way  of  casting 
eighty  yards. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principal  salmon  and 
trout  rivers  of  Canada  and  New  Brunswick,  with  the 
distances  of  the  former  from  Quebec,  and  such  informa- 
tion as  could  be  obtained  concerning  their  character  and 
condition.  Those  marked  in  italics  have  been  leased 
to  private  individuals,  but  the  others  are  open  to  all 
comers. 

The  Jacques  Cartier  is  the  only  river  near  Quebec 
which,  at  the  present  time,  affords  any  salmon. 

From  Quebec  to  Murray  Bay  is  .     78  miles. 

Here  there  is  a  river  that  furnishes  a  few  salmon  and 
many  fine  trout. 

From  Murray  Bay  to  the  Saguenay  is  44 — 120 
There  is  excellent  sea  trout  fishing  in  the  Saguenay 
and  its  tributary,  the  St.  Marguerite,  is  a  superior  salmon 
river. 

River  Escoumain 23 

Between  it  and  the  Saguenay  are  the  two  Bergeronnes, 
and  both  furnish  a  few  salmon  and  many  trout. 

Portneuf    .         ...         .         ,         .         .26 
Plenty  of  trout  and  some  salmon. 

Sault  de  Cochon 9 

Impassable  for  salmon,  but  affording  excellent  trout 
fishing  at  its  mouth. 

LaVal      .        .        .        .        .        ,        .      2 
Superior  salmon  and  trout  river. 


108  THE  SALMON. 

Bersamis miles  24 — 84 

Affording  in  its  tributaries  many  fine  salmon ;  between 
it  and  the  La  Yal  are  the  Colombia,  Plover  and  Blanche, 
all  poor  salmon  streams. 

Outardes    .         .         .         .         .        .         .11 

Manicouagan 16 

Mistassini 12 

Betscie 3 

Of  these  rivers  I  can  obtain  no  satisfactory  informa- 
tion. 

Godlout 15—57—261 

A  celebrated  salmon  river,  one  of  the  best  in  the 
province. 

Trinity 15 

Good  salmon  and  trout  fishing. 

Little  Trinity 10 

Calumet 3 

Pentecost 14 

"Not  a  salmon  river. 

St.  Margaret •   .     36 

One  of  the  best  salmon  and  trout  rivers. 

Moisie 24—103—364 

Fine  large  salmon  are  taken  in  this  river,  and  it  is 
widely  celebrated. 

Trout         . 7 

Manitou 35 

Good  trout  fishing ;  the  salmon  are  obstructed  by 
falls. 

Sheldrake 16 

Magpie 22 

Furnishes  a  few  salmon. 


THE    SALMON.  109 

St.  John 5 

An  admirable  salmon  stream. 

Mingan 16—101—465 

Probably  the  best  river  in  the  province  for  salmon, 
and  excellent  for  trout. 

Romaine 9 

An  excellent  stream  for  both  salmon  and  trout. 

"Wascheeshoo 53 

Pashasheboo 18 

A  few  salmon. 

Nabesippi  .         .        .        .        .        .7 

Agwanus   .        .        .  .        .        .5 

A  fair  supply  of  salmon. 

Natashquan        .         .         .         .  14 — 106—571 
Salmon  fine  and  abundant. 

Kegashka 23 

Salmon  impeded  by  falls. 

Musquarro 15 

Affords  good  salmon  fishing. 

Washeecootai 12 

Olomanosheebo          .....     11 

Coacoacho 18 

Contains  some  salmon. 

Etamamu 21 

Fine  salmon  fishery. 

Netagamu 16 

A  fine  trout  stream. 

Mecattina 4 

Good  salmon  fishing. 

Ha  Ha 9 

St.  Augustine 6 


110  THE  SALMON. 

Affords  many  salmon. 

Esquimaux          .         .         .         .  14 — 149 — 720 
An  excellent  salmon  river,  somewhat  run  down. 

In  New  Brunswick  there  are  salmon  in  the  St.  John 
and  its  tributaries,  but  the  best  of  the  latter,  the  Nash- 
waak,  has  been  closed  with  an  impassable  dam.  From 
St.  John  it  is  easy  to  take  the  cars  to  Shediac,  and  cross 
to  Prince  Edward's  Island,  where  there  is  magnificent 
trout  fishing,  especially  near  Charlotte,  and  tolerable 
accommodation  ;  or  one  can  take  the  Quebec  steamer  to 
Bathurst  and  fish  the  Nipisiquit,  which  is  admitted  to  be 
the  best  river  in  the  province,  or  the  Restigouche  and  its 
tributaries,  an  excellent  stream,  but  much  injured  by 
spearing ;  or  the  Cascapediacs,  which  furnish  some  sal- 
mon and  innumerable  grilse.  The  Miramichi,  between 
Shediac  and  Bathurst,  is  a  fine  large  stream. 

The  streams  in  Canada  emptying  into  the  St.  Law- 
rence from  the  south  shore,  are  hardly  worth  mentioning 
as  salmon  rivers,  having  been  ruined  by  mill-dams,  with 
the  exception  of  those  that  empty  into  Gaspe  basin,  but 
they  all  afford  superior  trout  fishing.  I  would  here 
remark,  that  where  the  name  trout  is  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  British  Provinces,  the  Salmo  Trutta 
Marina,  or  sea  trout,  is  always  intended ;  and  the  sal- 
mon fishing  spoken  of  is  fly  fishing.  The  rivers  that 
empty  into  Gaspe  basin,  such  as  the  Dartmouth,  York 
and  St.  John,  are  leased,  as  also  the  Bonaventure,  that 
flows  into  the  Bay  of  Chaleurs. 

As  explicit  directions  for  travelling  through  the 
benighted  regions  called  the  British  Provinces,  the  fol- 


THE    SALMON.  HI 

lowing  are  given  from  a  somewhat  unwillingly  extended 
experience. 

Take  the  night  train  or  any  route  that  will  bring  you 
to  Boston  before  half  past  seven  A.M.,  for  at  that  hour 
the  boat  leaves  for  St.  John,  not  St.  Johns,  which  is  in 
Newfoundland.  If  you  are  too  late,  you  may  still,  by 
means  of  the  cars,  intercept  the  same  vessel  at  Port- 
land. This  boat  does  not  leave  daily,  but  generally 
advertises  in  the  New  York  and  always  in  the  Boston 
papers.  It  touches  at  Portland,  where  you  may  take  a 
steamboat  on  its  arrival  to  Calais,  and  proceed  thence 
by  railroad  to  the  Scoodic  River,  where  there  is  tine 
white,  not  sea,  trout  fishing,  or  stop  at  St.  Andrews, 
whence  there  is  a  railroad  in  progress  to  "Woodstock,  on 
the  St.  John  River.  The  Boston  boat  reaches  St.  John 
in  about  thirty- two  hours,  or  at  three  o'clock;  the  fare 
is  six  dollars ;  the  meals  extra,  and,  consequently,  extra 
good. 

The  Waverley  House,  in  St.  John,  kept  by  J.  Scam- 
mell,  affords  the  best,  though  poor,  accommodation,  at  a 
reasonable  price.  A  train  leaves  on  the  arrival  of  the 
boat  for  Shediac,  and  makes  the  one  hundred  and  ten 
miles  in  six  hours,  at  a  fare  of  three  dollars.  From  She- 
diac a  steamboat  that  connects  with  the  train  carries  you 
to  Chatham  in  twelve  hours  for  three  dollars  and  fifty 
cents,  the  meals  being  extra  and  infamous.  At  Shediac. 
John  Q.  Adams  keeps  the  Adams  House,  and  will  fur- 
nish information  by  letter  as  to  the  time  of  the  starting 
of  the  boats.  Bowser's  Hotel  is  the  best  in  Chatham. 
From  Chatham  to  Bathurst,  forty-five  miles,  you  are 
compelled  to  travel  in  a  stage  that  only  leaves  three 


112  THE   SALMON. 

times  a  week,  and  never  on  the  arrival  of  the  boat,  and 
will  occupy  ten  hours  of  your  time  at  a  charge  of  three 
dollars  and  a  half ;  or  you  may  take  an  extra  for  sixteen 
dollars.  If  you  hire  one  of  Kelley,  the  stage  proprietor, 
make  a  tight  bargain,  for  he  is  Biblical  and  takes  in 
strangers.  In  case  you  should  be  too  late  to  reach 
Bathurst  the  same  day,  or  have  leisure  on  your  hands, 
stop  at  the  Half-way  House  on  the  Tabasintac,  which 
has  the  last  syllable  accentuated,  and  fish  that  night 
and  the  next  morning  for  sea  trout.  They  are  taken 
from  a  horse-boat  in  abundance  and  of  great  size. 

In  Bathurst  there  is  a  good  hotel  called  the  Welling- 
ton, kept  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  with  the  efficient  aid  of  Mary ; 
and  also  a  more  private  establishment,  by  Bela  Packard, 
which  is  the  customary  resort  of  Americans.  There  is  a 
telegraph  from  St.  John  to  Bathurst,  and  Baldwin  will 
meet  at  Chatham  any  guests  that  send  him  word,  and 
bring  them  to  Bathurst  for  fourteen  dollars.  In  the 
latter  place,  Ferguson,  Rankin  &  Co.  will  furnish  all 
the  heavy  outfit,  such  as  pork,  biscuit,  butter,  tea,  sugar, 
tobacco,  and  will  have  them  ready  put  up  if  written  to 
beforehand.  As  it  is  customary  on  the  Nipisiquit  to 
loan  the  guides  blankets,  the  same  firm  keep  them  on 
hand,  and  will  lend  them  to  those  that  buy  stores  of 
them.  Once  or  twice  a  month  the  Arabian  leaves  She- 
diac  and  stops  within  a  couple  of  miles  of  Bathurst,  and 
if  you  can  manage  to  suit  your  time  to  hers,  you  can  go 
direct  and  be  ticketed  through  for  ten  dollars.  Her 
days  may  be  ascertained  at  the  office  of  the  Boston  boats, 
but  it  is  well  to  telegraph  to  Bathurst  to  have  a  canoe  to 
meet  you,  as  otherwise  you  may  have  difficulty  in  reach- 


THE    SALMON.  113 

ing  town  from  the  landing.  The  same  steamer  and  its 
associate,  the  Lady  Head,  run  to  Dalhousie,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Restigouche,  or  a  stage  for  that  place 
leaves  Bathurst  three  times  a  week.  The  Lady  Head 
does  not  stop  at  Bathurst,  on  account  of  her  draught  of 
water. 

On  the  Nipisiquit  it  is  customary  to  have  a  camp- 
keeper  or  cook  for  the  party,  and  two  canoemen  to  each 
angler ;  they  furnish  the  canoe  and  receive  one  dollar  a 
day  each.  The  following  are  good  men :  John,  Peter 
and  Bruno  Chamberlain  ;  John  makes  a  good  fly,  but  is 
sulky  and  wil]ful ;  Bruno  is  lazy  ;  Ned  Yeno  and  David 
Buchet,  both  of  whom  are  excellent  and  willing,  and 
Fabian  Bodereau,  who  is  a  fair  cook.  To  save  your  men 
some  heavy  work,  where  you  do  not  intend  to  fish  the 
Rough  Waters,  you  drive  with  your  stores  to  the  Round 
Rocks,  the  Pabineau  Falls,  or,  if  you  please,  even  to  the 
Grand  Falls,  but  the  latter  part  of  the  road  is  bad. 

The  only  fishing  on  the  Miramichi  is  above  Boiestown, 
and  to  reach  it  you  leave  St.  John  in  the  night  or  day 
boat  for  Fredericton,  arriving  there  in  eight  hours  at  an 
expense  of  one  dollar  and  a  half.  The  night  boat  runs 
three  times  a  week.  The  best  house  in  Fredericton  is 
the  Barker  House,  kept  by  Mr.  Fairweather,  and  in  this 
city  you  must  get  your  supplies  for  the  woods.  The 
stage  leaves  every  Tuesday  and  Friday  for  Boiestown, 
nominally  at  ten  A.M.,  and  reaches  that  collection  of  huts 
nominally  at  six  P.M.  The  fare  is  two  dollars  and  a  half, 
and  the  ordinary  charge  for  an  extra  is  ten  dollars,  but 
remember  the  stage  proprietor  is  Kelley.  The  best 
tavern  in  Boiestown  is  kept  by  Avery,  but  about  five 


114  THE    SALMON. 

miles  up  the  river,  at  Campbelltown,  is  a  nice  Louse 
owned  by  William  "Wilson,  and  the  true  plan  is  either  to 
write  to  him  to  meet  you  at  Fredericton,  or  drive  over 
to  his  place.  He  will  engage  your  men,  aid  you  with 
the  supplies,  provide  you  with  bread,  besides  making  you 
generally  comfortable,  and  you  have  gained  so  much  in 
the  ascent  of  the  river.  The  stage  from  Boiestown  runs 
to  Chatham,  and  by  that  means  you  may  continue  to 
the  BTipisiquit,  but  there  is  no  reliance  to  be  placed  on 
it,  and  an  extra  from  Fredericton  to  Chatham,  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  miles,  costs  thirty  dollars.  The  stage  fare 
is  seven,  and  there  is  no  telegraph  to  Boiestown. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  ways  of  reaching  the 
various  rivers  of  JS"ew  Brunswick  is  by  portaging  from 
the  head-waters  of  one  into  those  of  another.  For 
instance,  a  steamboat  leaves  Fredericton  semi-weekly, 
when  the  water  is  not  too  low,  for  the  Grand  Falls  on 
the  St.  John ;  a  few  miles  above,  the  Grand  River 
debouches,  from  the  head-waters  of  which  a  short  port- 
age of  a  few  miles  takes  you  into  the  Waugan,  one  of 
the  branches  of  the  Restigouche,  or  you  may  stop  below 
the  Falls  and  ascend  the  Tobique,  a  noble  river,  full  of 
salmon,  but  which,  strange  to  say,  will  not  take  the  fly, 
and  from  Lake  Nictou,  the  source  of  the  Tobique,  you 
can  readily  portage  into  Lake  Nipisiquit,  and  by  ascend- 
ing the  main  forks  of  the  latter,  a  short  portage  puts 
you  on  the  Upsal quitch,  a  branch  of  the  Restigouche, 
and  abounding  in  salmon.  Another  confluent  of  the 
St.  John,  the  Shiktahauk,  is  crossed  at  its  head  by  the 
Royal  Road,  where  a  wagon  can  be  had  to  convey  your 
baggage  to  a  branch  of  the  Southwest  Miramichi,  and 


THE    SALMON.  115 

from  Newcastle,  at  the  mouth  of  the  latter  river,  you 
can  ascend  the  Northwest  Miramichi  and  strike  the 
Nipisiquit  near  the  Grand  Falls.  These  are  but  a  few 
of  the  simplest  voyages  that  may  be  made,  but  a  glance 
at  the  map,  or  a  talk  with  any  old  Indian  guide,  will 
reveal  many  others. 


116  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


CHAPTEE    VL 

NEW   BRUNSWICK. 

ONE  bright  moonlight  night  in  the  early  part  of  Sum- 
mer, a  heavy  wagon,  drawn  by  two  powerful  horses,  was 
bowling  along  one  of  the  dreary  level  roads  of  the 
province  of  New  Brunswick.  It  was  loaded  down  with 
trunks  on  the  rack,  barrels  under  the  seats,  that  were 
built  on  springs  above  the  sides  for  that  purpose,  and 
bundles  and  bags  innumerable  in  the  bottom,  and  two 
long  leathern  cases  that  suggested  salmon  rods.  It  car- 
ried three  men  ;  the  driver,  tall  and  spare,  with  a  shrewd 
eye,  and  long,  curly,  black  hair,  was  turned  half-way 
round  in  the  seat,  assuming  an  attitude  that  combined 
comfort  with  facility  of  conversation.  On  the  back  seat, 
a  middle  aged  gentleman,  whose  hair  and  beard  were 
silvered  o'er,  but  whose  eye  was  bright  as  in  his  earliest 
youth,  and  a  younger  man  of  stout  build  with  brownish 
hair  and  beard.  Their  talk  was  of  the  forest,  and  many 
thrilling  tales  of  danger,  or  exciting  ones  of  the  chase, 
were  told;  vivid  descriptions  of  how  the  moose,  the 
caribou,  the  red  deer,  met  his  fate ;  stories  of  the  tiger, 
the  wild  boar,  the  rhinoceros  and  unwieldy  elephant ;  or 
peaceful  description  of  killing  the  beautiful  trout,  the 
fierce,  striped  bass,  or  the  voracious  mascallonge.  The 
time  wore  pleasantly  away  as  they  passed  along  between 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


the  sombre  lines  of  spruce  and  hemlock  and  juniper,  as 
thej  ran  into  the  deep  shade  or  emerged  into  the  open 
moonlight  till  they  came  in  sight  of  the  JSTashwaak, 
seaming  the  dark  earth  like  a  vein  of  silver,  when  a  glo- 
rious view  presented  itself  to  their  attention.  Far  away 
as  the  eye  could  reach,  stretched  the  valley  of  Nashwaak, 
silent  as  the  repose  of  death  ;  not  a  sound  but  the  rat- 
tle of  the  wheels  broke  the  still  air,  while  the  moon 
bathed  the  rocks,  the  earth,  the  trees,  with  its  uncertain 
light,  formed  weird  shapes  out  of  the  foliage,  or  cast 
strange  shadows  across  the  road.  Still  on,  however, 
scarcely  pausing  —  as  every  true  sportsman  must  pause 
before  the  beauties  of  nature  —  the  party  were  soon  lost 
in  the  shady  descent  that  led  toward  the  bank  of  the 
stream,  whose  course  they  followed  some  miles,  crossing 
it  beyond,  over  a  high,  substantial  bridge.  The  road 
then  branched  off,  traversing  the  unbroken  wilderness, 
where  for  miles  not  a  habitation  was  visible,  till  mid- 
night found  them  amid  a  heavy  shower  at  McCloud's,  the 
half-way  house  from  Fredericton  to  Boiestown. 

The  horses  under  the  shed,  a  sound  thumping  on 
the  door  brought  out  the  host,  who  attended  to  the  wants 
of  man  and  beast,  and  sent  them  on  their  way  rejoicing, 
as  soon  as  the  storm  had  abated.  There  was  little  vari- 
ety in  the  scene  ;  the  road  was  mostly  level  and  good, 
the  forest  was  of  the  same  dull  character,  with  many 
dead  trunks  towering  up  amid  it  ;  there  were  few  houses 
and  no  settlements,  and  the  country  was  principally  one 
vast  plain.  As  the  morning  light  began  to  streak  the 
east  with  grey,  they  came  in  sight  of  the  peaceful  Mira- 
michi,  and  turning  off  from  the  main  road  across  the 


118  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

Taxes  Kiver,  followed  the  course  of  the  larger  stream,  till, 
nearly  opposite  a  beautiful  spring,  where  they  had 
stopped  to  water  their  horses,  they  turned  into  a  barway, 
and  in  a  moment  more  reached  Wilson's,  their  prospec- 
tive head-quarters. 

"Wilson's  habitation  was  a  quaint-looking  log .  house, 
perched  on  the  edge  of  a  bank  overhanging  what  is 
called  the  interval,  or  fruitful  stretch  of  level  land  lying 
between  the  river  and  the  hills,  and  its  evident  antiquity 
bore  testimony  that  it  had  belonged  to  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers. 

A  well-stocked  garden,  an  extensive  barn,  a  large 
drove  of  sheep  and  cows,  suggested  what  an  industrious 
and  comely  wife  and  daughter  confirmed,  that  Wilson's 
was  a  well-to-do  family. 

As  a  general  thing,  the  people  of  this  region  are  of  the 
most  short-sighted  possible  character ;  they  live  for  the 
present,  and  an  easy  way  of  making  a  dollar  is  irresistible, 
though  it  may  entail  the  final  loss  of  ten.  The  country 
is  slowly  going  back  to  a  savage  condition;  farmers, 
instead  of  attending  to  their  farms,  speculate  in  lumber, 
because  it  enriches  one  man  in  fifty;  mortgage  their 
farms,  which  are  sold  under  foreclosures  to  strangers  and 
allowed  to  grow  up  with  weeds  and  bushes.  Tens  of 
thousands  of  acres  are  in  this  condition,  and  are  being 
fast  rendered  irreclaimable.  Instead  of  encouraging  fish- 
ermen to  come  and  spend  money  among  them,  although 
they  admit  it  is  about  the  only  money  they  see,  they 
annoy  and  overcharge  at  such  a  rate  that  they  have 
driven  away  all  but  a  few  from  Fredericton.  Instead 
of  preserving  and  increasing  the  fish,  they  obstruct  the 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  •*  H9 

channel  entirely  with  nets,  striving  by  one  grand  haul  to 
destroy  the  supply  forever.  To  this  general  rule  Wilson 
is  the  only  exception,  and  may  be  relied  on,  not  only  to 
do  whatever  in  reason  is  required  of  him,  but  to  do  it  at 
a  moderate  price.  His  only  extravagant  charge  is  for 
driving  to  Fredericton  to  meet  his  guests. 

The  guides  were  waiting  for  us,  and  after  making  the 
requisite  preparations  and  passing  a  comfortable  night 
in  the  old  log  house j  we  started  next  day  on  our  journey 
toward  the  head-waters  of  the  Miramichi.  Our  canoes 
were  made  of  the  log  of  a  tree,  and  familiarly  called 
dug-outs,  and  were  admirably  adapted  to  the  purpose. 
Being  extremely  long,  sometimes  thirty  feet,  and  nar- 
row, they  offer  every  convenience  for  poling,  draw 
but  little  water,  and  are  not  injured  by  contact  with  a 
rock,  that  would  pierce  the  thin  bark  of  the  delicate 
birch  canoe,  and  will  hold  their  way  better  against  a 
strong  rapid.  They  are  made  of  the  trunk  of  some  tow- 
ering branchless  pine-tree  that  the  adventurous  woods- 
man has  marked  during  the  winter  for  his  own,  and 
which,  after  being  cut  down,  is  transported  to  a  conve- 
nient place,  where  it  is  hewn  into  the  shape  of  the  outside 
of  the  boat.  Augur  holes  are  bored  in  the  bottom,  and 
pegs,  two  inches  long,  are  driven,  to  answer  for  guides  as 
to  thickness.  The  inside  is  then  roughly  hewn  away, 
till  the  pegs  are  reached,  when  it  is  smoothed  off,  being 
left  two  inches  thick  at  the  bottom,  and  a  half  inch  at  the 
gunwale.  Slender  knees  are  introduced  at  proper  dis- 
tances to  prevent  its  warping  under  the  sun  ;  a  brace  is 
fastened  across  from  gunwale  to  gunwale,  near  the  stem 
and  stern,  and  the  boat  is  complete.  It  is  worth  about 


120  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

twelve  dollars,  and  having  neither  braces  nor  thwarts, 
but  an  open  space  its  entire  length,  is  convenient  for 
holding  a  long  rod,  and  being  steadier  under  foot,  offers 
many  advantages  over  the  birch  canoe.  It  is  particularly 
excellent  in  descending  a  shallow  river,  where  occasional 
contact  with  rocks  is  inevitable  ;  but  is  too  heavy  to 
portage  comfortably.  For  rapid  travel,  either  up  or  down 
stream,  it  is  invaluable. 

Our  baggage  was  stowed,  a  comfortable  seat  made 
with  the  end  of  the  tent  upon  the  bottom  of  the  canoe, 
our  rods  were  rigged  out  for  an  occasional  cast,  and  we 
commenced  the  ascent  of  the  "  Smiling  Water."  There 
had  been  heavy  and  continuous  rains,  and  quite  a  freshet 
had  now  changed  its  ordinary  placid  exterior  into  one  of 
angry  turbulence.  The  river  poured  down  fierce  and 
wild,  crested  with  foam  and  discolored  with  sand  and 
decayed  matter.  But  we  made  swift  progress ;  starting 
five  miles  above  Boiestown,  we  soon  passed  the  last 
settlement,  and  entering  among  the  mountains,  amid 
which  flows  the  upper  stream,  trusted  ourselves  alone 
to  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness,  to  the  mercy  of  the 
black-flies  for  our  comfort,  and  to  our  skill  as  sportsmen 
for  our  support. 

Ten  months  of  close  confinement  in  the  city,  years 
amid  the  horrors  of  civilization,  had  well  prepared  us 
to  appreciate  a  return  to  man's  natural  state  of  savage 
life  ;  long  contact  with  vice  and  folly  had  made  us  eager 
to  taste  once  more  of  truth  and  purity,  the  communion 
with  nature  uncorrupted  and  unsullied ;  to  feel  the  air 
blow  through  the  waving  trees  instead  of  down  narrow 
streets ;  to  hear  the  water  rippling  over  its  native  bed, 


NEW    BRUNSWICK,  121 

and  not  through  Croton  pipes ;  to  see  the  sun  shine  from 
out  the  blue  sky,  instead  of  being  reflected  amid  murk 
and  smoke  from  heated  bricks. 

The  spruce  and  fir-trees  stretched  in  solid  mass  like  a 
green  wall  on  either  side;  occasionally,  a  white  pine 
loomed  above  them,  or  a  birch,  with  its  satin  bark, 
broke  the  dull  hue ;  or  where  the  landscape  was  more 
open,  the  graceful  elm  or  willow  stood  forth  in  solitary 
beauty ;  and  the  juniper,  with  its  endless  names  of  hack- 
matac,  tamarack,  larch  or  cypress,  waved  its  weird  arms 
aloft ;  or  the  light,  quivering  poplar,  with  its  never- 
resting  leaves,  cast  an  uncertain  shade. 

The  weather  had  been  changeable  all  day,  occasionally 
bright  and  pleasant,  the  next  moment  dark  and  lowering 
—now  the  sun  shining  bright  and  warm  over  the  hill- 
sides, then  the  rain  driving  in  spiteful  showers  and  veil- 
ing them  in  mist.  The  storm  no  sooner  forced  on  our 
overcoats  than  the  sunshine  persuaded  them  off.  Toward 
night,  when  heavier  and  blacker  clouds  obscured  the 
sky,  we  determined  to  camp,  and  chose  a  point  opposite 
a  little  tributary  rivulet  called  Sandy  Brook. 

That  evening  and  the  next  day  were  passed  complet- 
ing our  camp  equipage  of  tables,  chairs,  basins,  and 
various  little  articles,  and  in  waiting  for  the  river  to  fall. 
During  this  time  one  of  those  pleasant  incidents  occurred 
that  are  intensely  enjoyed  in  rough  woodsman's  life  ;  two 
gentlemen  who  had  been  up  the  river  and  were  returning, 
stopped  and  dined  with  us.  There  was  a  grand  discussion 
over  flies,  resulting  in  a  mutual  exchange,  and  a  general 
mourning  over  the  condition  of  the  water,  with,  how 


122  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

ever,  the  encouragement  that  the  freshet  had  destroyed 
the  nets  and  let  the  fish  up  to  the  higher  grounds. 

Next  day  we  killed  our  first  fish  of  the  season.  I  had 
gone  above  the  island  at  the  head  of  the  pool  opposite 
our  camp,  and  was  fishing  slowly  down,  taking  occasion- 
ally a  brook  trout,  when  there  came  a  heavier  rise,  a 
louder  plash,  and  a  fierce  run  that  made  my  reel  discourse 
sweetly.  The  fish  had  struck  me  in  the  broken  water, 
and  it  was  uncertain  what  he  was  till  suddenly  he  sprang 
twice  his  length  out  of  water,  showing  the  silvery  sides 
and  gleaming  scales  of  the  lovely  grilse ;  again  and 
again  he  sprang  in  air,  making  the  water  fly  as  he  fell 
back,  and  doing  his  best  to  break  the  line  or  shake  out 
the  hook.  Bravely  he  fought,  taking  advantage  of  the 
current  to  run  out  line,  and  rubbing  against  rocks  to  cut 
it  through.  In  vain,  foiled  at  each  attempt,  his  strength 
rapidly  diminishing,  he  was  slowly  brought  nearer  and 
nearer,  till  a  dexterous  blow  of  the  gaif  finished  the 
struggle. 

Joyful  at  the  good  omen,  we  hastened  to  our  camp, 
and  were  met  by  my  companion,  Dalton,  who  proudly 
exhibited  a  similar  trophy.  There  was  a  grand  supper 
that  night,  and  strong  hopes  that  'the  flood  would  abate, 
hopes  that  were  destined  to  a  cruel  disappointment  when 
next  day  the  stream  was  found  to  be  higher  than  ever, 
and  heavy  clouds  portended  a  second  deluge. 

Our  next  camp  was  at  Still  Water  Brook,  a  name  that 
the  present  condition  of  that  streamlet  strongly  belied. 
We  did  not,  however,  remain  long,  our  sport  being  con- 
fined to  grilse,  and  not  many  of  those,  and  when  an  Eng- 
lish officer,  who  had  been  fishing  above,  called  to  say  he 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  123 

had  taken  all  the  fish  he  wanted  at  a  station  further  on, 
we  broke  up  camp  at  once,  to  the  great  disgust  of  our 
lazy  cook,  who  thought  he  had  cut  his  "  sprunghungle," 
or  stick  that  supports  the  kettle  over  the  fire,  for  the  last 
time.  We  pushed  on  to  Burnt  Hill,  a  famous  camping- 
ground  among  all  those  that  fish  the  Miramichi,  and 
there,  on  the  open  point  near  the  rock  at  whose  base  is 
the  deep  pool  where  salmon  lie  when  the  water  is  warm, 
we  established  our  sylvan  home  for  the  last  time. 

Burnt  Hill  is  so  named  from  having  been  burnt  over, 
years  ago,  and  is  still  a  mass  of  dead  and  blackened 
trunks,  that  tower  in  fantastic  shapes  toward  the  sky. 
Next  morning,  having  selected  my  choicest  cariboo  fly, 
Abraham  pushed  the  canoe  across  the  boiling  torrent, 
so  that  I  could  fish  near  the  rocky  shore  opposite.  Hav- 
ing made  several  casts  toward  the  bank,  he  swung  the 
canoe  in,  and,  running  its  nose  on  a  rock,  gave  me  a 
chance  to  fish  the  centre  of  the  channel.  I  had  hardly 
cast,  when  from  out  the  curling  wave  rushed  a  mighty 
monster,  which  gleamed  a  moment  in  the  sunshine  and 
disappeared.  I  felt  a  heavy,  dull  strain  on  my  rod,  the 
fish  swam  deep  and  seemed  unconscious  of  what  had 
happened.  Then,  suddenly  aroused  to  his  danger,  a 
magnificent  salmon  rushed  down-stream  and  vaulted 
high  out  of  water.  Abraham  glanced  at  me  ;  I  returned 
the  look,  but  not  one  word  was  spoken.  The  fish 
returned  to  his  former  station,  as  though  disdaining  a 
struggle  with  a  fragile  cord  and  contemptible  fly,  and 
re  i i mined  there  some  moments,  heavily  swimming  round 
and  round.  Suddenly  he  became  alarmed,  and  away 
he  went,  thirty  yards  at  least,  the  line  whistling  through 


124:  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

the  rings  and  the  reel  hissing  with  the  speed.     He  made 
a  splendid  leap  and  paused. 

I  had  just  time  to  tell  Abraham  to  swing  his  boat  off 
the  rock  where  she  was  resting,  when  the  fish  started 
again.  Down  he  darted  ;  the  rod  bent,  the  line  flying 
through  the  water,  and  after  him  came  the  pursuers. 
He  hesitated  an  instant  above  the  worst  rapids,  and  then 
sped  down  them  ;  once  in  a  while  I  could  see  him  amid 
the  foam  and  flying  spray,  as  he  rolled  himself  half  out 
of  water  over  some  heavy  wave ;  but  my  attention 
was  occupied  in  keeping  the  line  clear  of  rocks,  and  not 
exerting  too  much  strain  upon  it.  Admirably  did 
Abraham  handle  the  canoe.  He  was  alone ;  the  water 
seethed  and  boiled  round  us  broken  into  a  mass  of  fierce 
waves,  small  cascades  and  gleaming  foam.  It  poured 
with  raging  current  over  high  bowlders,  and  swept  be- 
tween narrow  rocks.  He  stood  erect  in  the  stern,  his 
eye  taking  the  measure  of  every  falls,  the  strength  of 
every  eddy ;  he  swung  the  canoe's  head  first  one  way 
then  another,  easing  her  down  over  the  higher  waves, 
that,  curling  against  the  stream,  broke  over  the  bow  in 
mimic  showers,  and  pushing  strongly  through  the  circ- 
ling eddies.  Not  a  rock  did  he  touch,  not  a  moment  did 
the  boat  escape  from  perfect  command,  and  when  we 
were  launched  upon  the  quiet  bosorn  of  the  deep  pool 
the  foot  of  Burnt  Hill  Rapids,  the  fish  was  on  the  lin< 
We  each  drew  a  long  breath  and  again  exchange< 
glances.  It  was  a  beautiful  spot  to  kill  a  fish.  Th< 
water,  all  white  and  raging  above,  formed  a  broad  edd; 
that  washed  the  base  of  the  rock  on  which  I  now  stooc 
Although  there  was  still  a  strong  current  in  the  centr< 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  125 

an  expanse  of  clear  water  spread  out  at  our  feet,  into 
which,  after  each  rush,  the  fish  could  be  easily  led,  and 
where  his  mad  leaps  were  the  only  risk.  It  was  our 
first  fish,  and  I  exercised  the  utmost  care ;  not  till  he 
was  almost  dead  did  I  force  him  to  the  surface,  where 
Abraham,  with  one  blow  of  his  gaff,  brought  our  prize 
to  land. 

What  a  beauty  she  was  !  The  small,  delicate  head 
pronounced  her  a  female,  the  destined  parent  of  myriads 
cut  off  in  her  prime.  The  brilliancy  of  her  flashing 
scales  gave  token  that  not  long  since  had  she  been  roam- 
ing free  from  danger  along  the  shores  of  the  seacoast, 
and  her  broad  back  and  deep  chest  announced  her  heavy 
weight.  Glorious  in  her  outward  appearance,  our  keen 
appetites  pictured  to  our  imaginations  the  rich  red  flesh 
in  layers,  with  flakes  of  pearly  fat  between,  the  delicate 
thin  sides  of  the  stomach,  the  depth  of  solidity  in  her 
broad  back.  Our  thoughts  dwelt  for  a  moment  on  the 
fine,  juicy  flavor  her  fifteen  good  pounds  would  furnish 
for  many  a  meal.  But  above  all  did  we  recollect  with 
ride  how  well  both  of  us  had  done  in  killing  the  first 

mon  in  the  Miramichi. 

Mr.  Dalton  had  been  watching  the  contest  from  the 
bank  opposite,  and  we  returned  together  to  the  camp, 
where  libations  were  duly  poured  forth  in  honor  of  onr 
first  capture,  and  preparations  were  made  for  a  grand 
entertainment. 

That  evening  around  the  fire,  after  supper  was  finished, 
and  the  genial  pipe  was  soothing  as  well  as  invigorating 
our  minds,  and  after  several  personal  adventures  had 
been  related,  Duncan  commenced  the  following  history  of 


- 


126  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


THE    GHOST    OF   DEADMAN?S   LANDING. 


"  You  saw  that  point  of  land  we  came  by  the  other 
day,  where  I  told  you  a  dead  man  was  carried  out  from 
the  woods  ?  Well,  I  was  there  when  he  was  killed. 
We  had  been  logging  in  the  woods,  and  doing  pretty 
well  till  we  tried  to  draw  out  an  uncommon  heavy  stick 
of  timber.  Sam  Masters  was  with  us — we  used  to  call 
him  Swearing  Sam,  from  a  bad  habit  he  was  given  to — 
and  Sam  had  taken  a  great  idea  to  have  that  stick  of 
timber  taken  out  before  night ;  but  the  horses  were  tired 
and  it  was  late,  and  after  we  had  dragged  it  part  of  the 
way  all  but  Sam  proposed  to  leave  it  till  to-morrow. 
But  Sam  insisted  that  he  was  not  going  to  give  up,  and 
when  we  all  agreed  to  quit,  he  got  mad  and  swore  he 
would  have  that  timber  out  alone  if  he  had  to  go  to 
hell  for  it,  and  work  till  the  day  of  judgment.  We 
tried  to  persuade  him  off,  but  stay  he  would,  and  we  left 
him  with  the  horses  and  returned  to  our  camp,  which  we 
had  made  at  the  landing.  After  supper  was  finished, 
and  it  began  to  be  late,  we  became  anxious  about  Sam, 
and  when  he  did  not  arrive,  at  near  midnight,  all  hands 
set  out  to  look  him  up. 

"  We  had  not  much  trouble  to  find  the  horses  ;  they  felt 
cold  and  hungry,  and  were  neighing  for  their  supper, 
but  were  surprised  to  see  the  log  rolled  off  the  truck, 
and  Sam  gone.  But  the  next  thing  we  noticed  was 
Sam's  head  just  out  from  the  edge  of  the  log,  that  lay 
across  his  body.  It  was  an  awful  sight ;  the  moon  was 
shining  bright  on  his  face,  that  was  turned  up  toward 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  127 

the  sky,  but  all  swollen  and  discolored,  witli  the  eyes 
wide  open  and  starting  out  of  their  sockets,  and  his 
tongue  sticking  out  of  his  mouth,  and  the  blood  frozen 
round  his  nostrils  and  the  corners  of  his  lips.  He  must 
have  been  dead  for  hours.  We  had  a  hard  time  to  roll 
the  log  off,  and  then  he  was  mashed  all  out  of  shape,  so 
we  carried  him  the  best  way  we  could  to  the  shanty,  and 
next  day  wrapped  him  in  a  blanket  and  took  him  down 
the  river.  His  wife  was  all  struck  of  a  heap  when  she 
saw  him,  for  Sam  was  a  good  husband  ;  if  he  did  swear 
more  than  he  ought,  he  never  swore  at  her." 

"He  would  have  been  squelched  sooner  if  he  had," 
put  in  Dalton,  sotta  voce. 

"  We  felt  pretty  bad,"  continued  Duncan ;  "  but  after 
a  few  days  had  to  go  back  and  finish  hauling  the  logs, 
for  we  had  a  lot  cut.  It  was  cold  weather,  and  the  wind 
howled  through  the  pines  till  sometimes,  at  night,  we 
almost  thought  we  heard  hallooing  in  the  woods,  but  no 
one  cared  to  go  out  and  see.  About  two  weeks  after  our 
return,  I  happened  to  leave  my  axe  where  I  was  chop- 
ping, and  as  snow  had  begun  to  fall  pretty  fast,  and  it 
might  be  snowed  over,  I  went  back  after  it.  I  had 
forgotten  precisely  where  it  was  left,  and  lost  a  good  deal 
of  time  looking  about,  all  the  while  the  snow  coming 
harder  and  harder,  so  that  the  track  was  soon  covered. 
That  was  not  much  matter,  for  I  knew  the  country  well ; 
but  it  was  growing  dark,  and  the  snow  blinded  me,  so 
that  I  could  not  see  plainly. 

"  You  may  believe  I  did  not  delay  any ;  but  after  hur- 
rying on  as  fast  as  possible  for  an  hour  or  two,  thought 
things  looked  strange;  the  trees  grew  thick  and  the 


128  NEW   BRUNSWICK. 

ground  rough  and  steep,  and  I  could  not  tell  where  I 
was.  I  searched  about  for  some  landmark,  but  it  was 
almost  dark,  and  after  trying  in  vain,  and  having  a  heavy 
overcoat  with  me,  but  no  matches,  I  was  about  to  crawl 
under  the  roots  of  a  dead  tree  and  make  the  best  of  it, 
when  I  heard  somebody  shouting  in  the  distance. 

"  There  is  no  mistake,  but  I  was  glad,  and  sung  out 
back,  and  clambered  over  the  trees  and  stones  toward 
the  voice ;  but  what  was  my  surprise,  on  approaching, 
to  see  our  own  team,  and  one  of  the  boys  driving.  They 
had  no  intention  of  hauling  another  log,  and  must  have 
been  foolish  to  think  of  it  in  that  snow ;  but,  stranger 
than  all,  when  I  called,  did  not  stop  or  take  any  notice. 
To  tell  the  truth,  I  began  to  feel  mighty  queer,  especially 
as  the  driver  was  shaped  uncommon  like  Sam,  and  I 
suddenly  remembered  that  it  was  that  night  a  month  ago 
when  he  hauled  his  last  stick  of  timber.  I  followed 
slowly  along  and  never  said  a  word ;  the  driver,  whoever 
he  was,  was  riding  on  the  log,  and  now  and  then  his 
voice  shouted  out  what  sounded  in  the  storm  mighty  like 
a  curse.  Suddenly  the  drag  struck  a  stump,  the  horses 
made  a  spring,  the  log  started,  the  driver  tried  to  jump, 
but  slipped,  and  the  log  fell  on  him  with  crushing  force. 
There  was  an  awful  shriek  in  the  next  blast  that  drove  a 
shower  of  snow  in  my  eyes,  and  when  I  looked  again, 
horses,  log  and  man  were  gone.  I  knew  well  enough 
where  I  was  then,  and  did  not  take  long  to  reach  the 
camp,  when  the  boys  hardly  knew  me,  I  was  so  white 
and  dazed  like." 

"  Let  us  see,"  said  Abraham,  holding  his  chin  in  a 
thoughtful  way;  "  it  was  after  that  you  swore  off  liquor  2" 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  129 

"  Yes,"  said  Bobert.  "  The  other  boys  hardly  knew 
the  liquor  cask  they  had  left  in  the  woods  next  day,  if  I 
have  heard  right." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,  boys,"  said  Duncan,  solemnly ; 
"  there  is  no  fun  in  seeing  a  ghost,  and  I  had  not  taken 
more  than  a  few  drinks.  Besides,  you  know  how,  next 
year,  when  Jake,  and  Dick,  and  some  others  were  in  the 
same  camp,  they  heard  Sam's  old  chest,  that  we  had  left 
there,  creak  as  though  some  one  had  sat  on  it,  and  how 
the  shanty  door  was  taken  off  the  hinges  and  held 
upright  in  the  middle  of  the  floor.  And  the  black  dog 
that  left  no  track  in  the  snow,  but  used  to  run  along  the 
ridge  pole  of  moonlight  nights,  when  nobody  was  in  the 
shanty;  and,  finally,  how  the  roof  was  all  taken  off 
when  Tom's  party  was  there,  and  although  it  was  covered 
with  snow,  not  a  drop  fell  inside.  No,  no,  spirits  are 
no  laughing  matters." 

"  Especially  prime  spirits,"  suggested  the  cook. 

"Jamaica  or  Holland,  but  I  never  heard  of  JSTcw 
Brunswick  spirits  before,"  said  Robert. 

"  "Well,  I  can  just  tell  you  one  thing,"  said  Duncan, 
aroused ;  "  there  is  not  one  of  you  dare  sleep  in  that 
shanty  alone.  Come,  I  will  pole  any  of  you  down  there 
to-morrow  that  would  like  to  try.  Who  will  go  ?" 

A  dead  silence  fell  on  the  party,  for,  truth  to  tell, 
though  bold  enough  round  the  fire  together,  the  dwellers 
on  the  Miramichi  are  a  good  deal  given  to  superstition, 
and  not  one  of  the  party  but  some  time  or  other  had 
fancied  he  heard  Sam's  ghost  shouting  to  his  team  of  a 
stormy  night  near  the  landing. 

"  Well,"  said  Abraham,  slowly,  "  I  never  saw  but  one 

6* 


130  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

ghost.  It  was  a  moonlight  night,  with  a  little  snow  on 
the  ground,  and  I  was  alone,  crossing  a  cleared  lot 
where  the  stumps  stood  pretty  thick,  when  I  noticed, 
crouched  down  behind  one  of  them,  a  figure  of  some 
sort  that  looked  like  an  old  woman.  It  had  no  bonnet 
or  hat,  nothing  but  a  cap  on  its  head ;  it  wore  a  long, 
tattered  dress,  that  blew  about  in  the  wind,  while  I  could 
just  make  out  a  pair  of  thin,  white  arms ;  but  her  face 
was  black  as  a  coal.  It  is  no  use  to  say  I  was  not 
scared,  for  I  think  I  was.  There  were  some  crazv  people 
about  at  that  time,  who  had  escaped  from  the  madhouse  ; 
but  I  was  pretty  sure  I  could  outrun  any  of  them,  'spe- 
cially a  woman,  and  I  knew  it  was  no  use  running  from 
ghosts,  so  I  concluded  the  best  thing  to  do  was  to  keep 
right  along  and  pretend  to  take  no  notice ;  but,  do  my 
best,  I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  off  the  old  woman.  I 
tried  to  whistle,  but  not  a  sound  would  come.  I  only 
blew  a  little,  and  not  very  steady  at  that.  I  tried  to 
sing,  but  the  first  note  I  uttered  made  me  jump  ten  feet ; 
I  thought  it  was  somebody  else's  voice,  as  sure  as  fate.  I 
had  sidled  off  as  far  as  I  could  on  account  of  a  gully 
there  was,  and  did  not  like  to  go  down  that  for  fear  she 
should  think  I  was  afraid.  The  distance  between  us 
was  growing  less  and  less,  and  as  I  watched  her  sharper 
than  ever,  she  appeared  to  make  one  or  two  moves,  and 
then  stop;  but  all  of  a  sudden,  she  jumped  up,  threw  off 
her  clothes,  and  started  after  me.  I  uttered  one  yell,  and 
turned  ;  but,  as  luck  would  have  it,  caught  my  foot  in  a 
root  under  the  snow,  and  rolled  headlong  down  the  steep 
side  of  the  gully. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  I  said,  I  think  I  prayed ;  but  I 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  131 

made  considerable  noise,  anyway,  and  poked  my  head 
into  a  bush,  and  tried  to  burrow  under  the  snow.  This 
lasted  some  time ;  but  hearing  nothing  more,  and  not 

inding  myself  killed,  my  courage  returned ;  I  took  out 
head,  and  slowly  crawled  up  the  ftank.     Peering 
irefully  over  the  edge,  I  saw  a  stump  where  the  old 

roman  had  been  crouching,  burnt  at  the  top,  with  some 
low  on  it;    there  was  a  dead  bush  and  roots  at  the 

>ottom,  while  a  little  further  off  lay  a  quantity  of  dead 
birch  bark,  waving  about  in  the  wind.  *'  Abe,'  said  I 
to  myself,  '  you  have  been  an  awful  fool  to  take  a  fired 
stump,  a  little  snow,  and  some  birch  bark  for  a  ghost. 
Never  do  so  again.'  And  I  never  have,  and  have  never 
been  so  scared  from  that  day  to  this." 

After  a  hearty  laugh  at  Abraham's  fright,  Robert  was 
called  upon,  and  responded  as  follows  : 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  a  ghost  story,  but  one  of  as  scared 
a  man  as  ever  was  seen.  It  happened  at  this  very  place, 
too,  when  we  were  camped  on  this  spot,  and  was  brought 
to  my  mind  by  what  you  were  reading  to-day  of  the  man 
hunting  a  grizzly  bear,  and  leaving  off  because  the  track 
got  too  fresh.  Jim  Baker  was  with  us.  He  had  lived 
most  of  his  life  in  the  settlements,  and  had  only  just 
come  among  us,  but  could  play  the  fiddle  and  sing 
a  song,  and  must  have  had  a  good  ear  for  music,  for 
among  the  first  things  he  did  was  to  learn  to  call  moose. 
He  was  uncommonly  proud  of  the  performance,  and 
though  he  had  never  seen  a  moose,  promised  to  keep  the 
camp  in  meat.  Well,  he  kept  calling  all  the  time,  and 
sure  enough  one  day,  while  we  were  camped  here,  a  bull 
answered. 


132  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

"  A  good  hunter  might  call  till  he  was  grey  before  he 
could  bring  a  moose  in  broad  daylight  right  up  to  the 
camp ;  but  it  was  a  fool's  luck,  and  sure  enough  we  soon 
heard  him  rapping  through  the  bushes,  and  then  jump 
into  the  brook  and  begin  wading  down.  Jim  had  out 
the  gun,  and  started  off  to  crawl  along  the  edge  in  the 
bushes  to  meet  him.  We  could  see  them  both ;  Jim 
crept  along  as  fast  as  he  could  at  first,  and  the  bull  came 
faster  yet  down  the  stream  without  showing  a  sign  of 
fear.  Soon  Jim  began  to  go  slower,  and  finally  stopped 
altogether,  while  the  moose  kept  right  on  toward  him, 
till  he  was  within  fifty  yards,  when  he  paused  and  took 
a  general  survey.  Jim  raised  the  gun,  but  when  he  did 
so  the  animal  seemed  to  have  his  curiosity  aroused,  and 
advanced  several  steps  toward  Jim,  who  lowered  his  gun, 
and  backed  a  few  paces  till  the  moose  stopped  again. 
Jim  again  raised  the  gun,  and  again  the  moose  advanced 
and  Jim  retreated.  This  went  on  till  the  moose  became 
satisfied,  and  with  a  snort  bounded  into  the  bushes  and 
was  gone.  When  Jim  came  back  we  asked  him  why  he 
did  not  shoot,  and  he  said  we  need  not  think  he  was 
afraid ;  he  intended  to  shoot,  but  did  not  know  how  the 
gun  carried  ball." 

The  next  day  my  friend  killed  his  first  salmon,  and 
strange  to  say,  thus  we  continued  to  the  end,  each  catch- 
ing precisely  the  same  number  of  fish.  The  days  were 
beautifully  warm,  and  rather  given  to  weeping,  but  fresh 
and  bracing ;  whereas  the  nights  were  deliciously  cool, 
almost  too  cold  for  Summer,  and  demanded  plenty  of 
warm  blankets.  Living  in  the  most  primitive  but  com- 
fortable style,  feeding  off  a  rough  table,  and  often  cook- 


NEW .  BRUNSWICK.  133 

ing  half  the  dinner  ourselves,  but  with  a  glorious  feeling 
of  entire  independence,  the  heavens  above,  the  earth 
beneath,  and  all  nature  round  us,  we  had  a  splendid  time, 
and  many  fish  came  to  our  net. 

Thus  the  pleasant  days  flew  by ;  the  sport  ever 
honest,  manly,  invigorating  and  exciting,  varying  in 
luck,  at  times  abundant*  in  its  yield,  and  then  utterly 
unproductive — the  uncertainty  added  zest ;  while  the 
evenings  and  hot  middays  were  enlivened  with  the  story, 
joke  or  latest  novel.  Many  an  idle  hour,  when  the  sun 

>ne  too  resplendent  for  the  hope  of  sport,  did  we 
while  away,  the  men  seated  or  stretched  at  length  in 
various  picturesque  attitudes,  and  one  of  us  reading 
aloud.  But  the  time  came  when  this  was  to  end,  and  on 
the  eleventh  day  the  edict  was  promulgated  to  break  up 
camp  and  return. 

The  tent  fell  and  was  packed,  the  pots  and  pans  were 
huddled  together,  our  camp  stores  stowed,  and  we  reem- 
barked  for  the  descent  of  the  river.  Keeping  rods 
ready  for  an  occasional  cast,  we  swept  along ;  the  water 
was  high,  our  men  were  good  boatmen,  the  canoes  were 
strong,  and  we  rushed  through  the  foaming  torrent  at  a 
gallant  rate. 

At  Rocky  Bend  my  friend  struck  five  fine  grilse  suc- 
cessively, and  lost  all  but  one,  much  to  his  chagrin.  He 
laid  it  to  the  size  of  his  hooks,  alleging  they  were  too 
large  ;  but  what  genius  will  arise  to  explain  how  it  is  that 
salmon  break  away  without  any  severe  strain  on,  or 
damage  to,  the  tackle.  Is  it  a  defect  in  the  shape  of  the 
hook  ?  If  so,  should  it  bend  to  one  side,  or  curve  in  or  out 
at  the  point  ?  Or  is  it  in  the  force  of  striking,  or  place 


134:  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

where  the  hook  holds  ?  The  matter  is  so  complex,  that 
the  most  careful  investigation  has  left  me  even  without 
a  theory.  Some  of  my  friends  swear  by  one  of  the 
above  plans,  others  by  another ;  I  have  tried  them  all, 
and  still  the  fish  escape  as  frequently  as  ever. 

As  we  approached  a  well-remembered  spot  where  I 
had  taken  a  fine  grilse  in  ascending,  Abraham  slowly 
said  : 

"•Take  care  as  we  come  down  to  this  pool,  for  I  am 
like  the  man  that  once  shot  a  bear  at  a  cleared  spot  just 
below,  and  whenever  afterward  he  came  to  the  same 
place,  he  clambered  on  the  highest  stump,  and  looked 
around  to  see  whether  there  was  not  another  bear. 
Wherever  we  took  one  fish,  I  always  expect  to  take 
another." 

I  told  him  it  was  somewhat  the  same  with  me,  but  in 
that  instance  we  were  doomed  to  disappointment — there 
was  no  second  bear. 

At  Sandy  Pond  we  made  our  camp  for  the  night,  as 
my  friend  had  never  seen  a  fish  killed  with  the  spear, 
and,  although  admitting  its  unsportsmanlike  character, 
wished  to  experience  how  it  was  done. 

When  darkness  had  settled  down,  our  men  kindled  a 
flaming  fire  of  pine  knots,  in  an  iron  basket  attached  to 
a  pole  that  projected  from  the  bow  of  the  canoe,  and 
seating  my  friend  amidships  between  them,  pushed  off. 
They  pulled  against  the  stream,  the  bright  light  bringing 
out  the  stones  at  the  bottom  of  the  water  in  strong  relief, 
exposing  everything  within  a  radius  of  twenty  feet. 
Behind  it  stood  the  spearsman,  erect,  his  quick  eye 
glancing  in  every  direction,  the  firelight  falling  upon 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  135 

his  reddened  visage  and  illuminating  his  many  graceful 
attitudes.  "With  rapid  motion  he  swung  the  spear  from 
side  to  side  as  any  passing  object  attracted  his  attention, 
ready  for  the  death-dealing  blow.  With  perfect  facility 
he  kept  command  of  the  boat,  shoving  her  bow  from  the 
rocks  and  guiding  it  through  the  proper  channel ;  occa- 
sionally the  spear  was  sent  glancing  through  the  water, 
and  in  a  moment  a  grilse  brought  struggling  to  the  sur- 
face and  thrown  into  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  where  the 
fire  rays  were  reflected  from  his  scales  like  the  liquid 
gleam  of  the  diamond. 

It  was  a  picturesque  sight,  the  waving  flame,  the 
active  spearsman,  the  graceful  canoe,  and  the  intense 
darkness  around ;  but  it  was  cruel  and  barbarous,  and 
my  friend  desisted  before  many  fish  had  suffered. 

Next  day  returned  us  safe  and  sound  to  Wilson's  hos- 
pitable log  mansion,  where  a  hearty  welcome  awaited 
us.  Our  extra  stores  were  divided  among  the  men,  a 
farewell  spoken,  the  team  once  more  harnessed,  and  we 
set  out  to  join  the  stage  at  Boiestown  for  Chatham,  on 
the  road  to  the  Nipisiquit. 

A  strange  place  is  Boiestown  ;  built  by  an  American 
named  Boies,  it  is  a  mere  collection  of  unpainted  shanty- 
like  houses  but  with  Yankee  shrewdness,  located  upon 
a  fine  stream  of  never-failing  water,  with  excellent  mills 
and  water  power,  it  might  have  been  a  thriving  place 
had  not  Boies,  its  presiding  spirit,  met  with  reverses. 
The  maelstrom  of  lumber  speculation  had  ingulfed  him, 
and  with  him  the  prosperity  of  the  town.  '  There  was  no 
native  capable  of  filling  his  place,  and  the  glory  of  Boies* 
town  had  departed. 


136  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

The  stage  was  due  at  six  o'clock,  but  at  six  o'clock  it 
did  not  come,  nor  at  seven,  eight,  nine  nor  ten.  We  told 
Wilson  to  return  for  us  in  the  morning,  and  retired  to 
rest  in  the  nearest  tavern,  leaving  word  to  be  called 
when  it  did  come. 

At  midnight  there  was  a  pounding  at  the  door  an- 
nouncing the  arrival  of  the  conveyance  that  was  to  carry 
us  and  our  baggage,  two  heavy  trunks,  seventy  miles.  It 
was  a  light  one  horse-wagon.  We  went  to  bed  again, 
and  next  morning  found  the  stage-driver  still  at  Boies- 
town,  having  turned  out  his  horse  to  graze. 

Wilson,  however,  soon  arrived,  and  we  started  on  that 
dreary  road,  following  the  descent  of  the  Miramichi  to 
its  mouth.  There  is  one,  and  but  one,  pretty  view  in 
the  entire  seventy  miles,  arid  that  is  as  you  ascend  the 
first  mountain  beyond  Boiestown.  Looking  back,  the 
peaceful  valley  that  we  had  just  left,  stretching  away 
to  our  camping-ground,  lay  basking  in  the  sunlight. 
In  the  distance,  scarcely  visible  among  the  trees,  were 
the  few  houses  that  compose  Campbelltown  ;  nearer  was 
the  straggling  village  of  Boiestown,  and  at  our  feet  ran 
the  placid  river,  leaving  broad  intervals  upon  its  banks, 
and  meandering  between  smiling  islands.  The  hay  was 
ripening  in  the  meadow,  the  oats  were  still  luxuriant  in 
their  fresh  green,  the  bushes  lined  the  occasional  fences 
or  marked  out  the  narrow  swamps,  while  here  and  there 
were  dotted  the  majestic  white  pine,  the  towering  spruce, 
the  noble  elm  or  the  graceful  willow,  and  a  dead  tree  now 
and  then  stretched  its  ungainly  limbs  toward  the  clouds. 

Beyond,  however,  we  fell  into  one  dull,  dreary  routine ; 
civilization  was  behind  us,  the  few  farms  once  cultivated 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  137 

were  falling  back  into  their  savage  state,  the  houses 
tumbling  down,  the  barns  in  their  last  stages  of  dilapida- 
tion, everywhere  windows  broken  out,  doors  off  their 
hinges,  huge  cracks  in  roof  or  walls,  told  of  general 
decay.  The  people  had  fled,  no  one  knew  whither  ;  and 
of  the  few  that  were  left,  the  stupidity,  avarice  and 
extortion  were  incredible.  They  impose  upon  and  annoy 
travellers  and  fishermen  till  they  have  almost  driven 
them  away.  The  stages  fail  to.  run  or  to  connect  as 
they  undertake  to  do.  No  one  appears  to  know  their 
times  of  starting  or  arriving.  Boats  advertise  to  leave 
on  days  when  they  never  have  left,  to  stop  at  places  that 
are  not  laid  down  on  the  map,  but  are  colloquially 
applied  to  an  entire  district ;  and  omit  places  where  they 
do  stop.  No  man  knows  anything  except  his  own  indi- 
vidual business,  and  but  little  of  that.  The  inhabitants 
mainly  draw  their  support  from  the  river,  and  yet  are 
busy  day  and  night  endeavoring  to  rnin  it ;  the  nets 
from  opposite  shores  lap  over  one  another  or  reach  from 
bank  to  bank,  and  are  set  week  in  and  week  out,  while 
there  is  a  fish  running  ;  the  smallest  mesh  is  used,  small 
enough  to  capture  trout  or  herring.  The  few  fish  that 
do  reach  the  spawning  beds  are  chased  with  the  merci- 
less spear  without  cessation  till  long  after  they  are  worth- 
less as  food.  Yet  the  people  think  the  river  has  improved 
because  the  laws  are  partially  enforced  at  its  mouth, 
betters  complain  of  the  spearers,  and  the  spearers  of  the 
netters,  but  neither  do  anything  but  harm.  The  upper 
stream  is  alive  with  nets,  although  netting  should  be  per- 
mitted nowhere  above  tide  water. 

The  only  crops  of  the  region  are  potatoes,  oats  and 


138  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

hay ;  for  nine  months  there  is  rigorous  winter,  and  for 
three  months  cold  weather.  The  great  productions  are 
black  flies,  midgets  and  mosquitoes.  The  Lord  help 
such  a  people,  for  the  people  will  never  help  themselves. 
Let  my  blessing  remain  with  the  land;  I  shall  never 
return  for  it. 

The  river  itself  is  not  only  lovely  to  contemplate  but 
would  afford  to  reasonable  beings  abundant  support.  In 
May  and  June  the  Gaspereau  or  ale  wives,  a  species  of 
.herring,  Alosa  Tyrannus,  make  their  appearance  in 
myriads,  and  ascend  to  the  lakes  to  spawn  ;  in  June  and 
July  the  beautiful  sea  trout  appear  in  shoals  and  urge 
their  course  to  the  head-waters  and  the  cool  brooks  ;  in 
July  and  August  come  the  splendid  salmon,  struggling 
against  every  impediment  that  the  wit  of  man,  or  want 
of  wit,  can  place  in  their  way,  to  perpetuate  their  species 
for  that  foolish  man's  support,  and  build  their  nests  in 
the  broad  sandy  pools.  The  lively,  energetic  grilse 
come  last,  fighting  vigorously  to  reach  their  sylvan 
homes.  Not  one  of  all  these  races  is  taken,  fairly  or 
properly,  nor  when  his  destruction  will  do  most  good 
and  the  least  harm. 

Having  dined  at  Decantelon's,  we  reached  Lynch's  by 
dark,  where  we  supped  and  passed  the  night,  and  next 
day,  after  breakfasting  at  Magee's,  arrived  at  New- 
castle by  nine  in  the  morning.  Seeing  a  boy,  my  friend 
inquired : 

"  Boy,  when  does  the  stage  leave  that  runs  to  New- 
castle ?" 

"  A'most  any  time ;  one  has  gone,  but  there  will  be 
another  going  in  an  hour  or  two." 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  139 

"  Where  does  it  start  from  ?  We  must  inquire  for  our- 
selves, I  see." 

"  Oh,  anywhere  round  the  streets ;  up  one  street  and 
down  another." 

"  Now  that  cannot  be,"  continued  my  friend  sternly ; 
"  it  must  start  from  some  place,  and  we  do  not  wish  to 
miss  it." 

"  Well,  it  will  be  along ;  it  goes  all  around." 

"  It  has  to  cross  that  ferry,  I  believe,"  said  my  friend, 
almost  savagely. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  boy. 

"  We  will  wait  there  where  it  cannot  miss  us." 

u  Why,  there  it  comes  now ;  don't  you  see  it  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river  ?" 

Sure  enough,  there  it  was ;  and  from  that  moment  it 
never  escaped  our  eye.  There  was  a  post-office  near  by. 

"  Postmaster,"  said  my  friend,  "  as  you  must  know,  on 
account  of  your  official  position,  will  you  tell  me  when 
the  Princess  Royal  leaves  Chatham  for  Shediac." 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  every  Monday  and  Friday.  It  is  advertised 
in  the  paper." 

"  Now  there  is  some  satisfaction  about  this,"  and  out 
came  his  note-book.  "  Every  Monday  and  Friday — ah, 

yes,  the  paper  says Why,  the  paper  says  Monday 

and  Thursday !" 

"  Impossible !  So  it  does ;  why  she  never  sails  on 
Thursdays.  There  must  be  some  mistake." 

"  Somewhere  no  doubt,"  said  my  friend,  despondingly, 
returning  the  note-book ;  nor  was  he  much  relieved  by 
being  afterwards  informed  by  the  stage-driver  that  she 
sailed  neither  Thursday  nor  Friday,  but  only  Monday. 


140  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

At  Chatham,  Mrs.  Bowser  received  us  hospitably  and 
noisily,  and  there  we  met  some  good  sportsmen  and  fine 
fellows.  The  sportsmen  are  the  salt  of  New  Brunswick 
earth ;  they  have  not  a  trait  in  common  with  the  other 
inhabitants,  but  are  jovial,  friendly  and  open-hearted. 
One  cannot  know  too  many  nor  see  too  much  of  them. 
We  owed  them  many  thoughtful  attentions,  which  we 
will  repay  to  them  or  others  of  the  race  of  fishermen, 
passing  on  the  obligation. 

Forty-five  more  miles  of  weary  road,  crossing  in  its 
course  the  Tabasintac,  that  splendid  trout  stream,  and 
we  reached  Bathurst,  where  we  found  the  guides  await- 
ing us  at  the  "Wellington  House,  having  received  our 
telegram,  and  next  day  we  began  "  life  in  the  woods  " 
once  more. 

Our  camp  was  pitched  at  the  Hound  Hocks,  the  lowest 
fishing  station  on  the  Nipisiquit,  whither  we  drove  with 
our  luggage  in  a  wagon,  and  met  the  canoes.  Our  rods 
were  hastily  put  together,  and  in  Rock  Pool,  at  the 
second  cast,  I  took  a  fine  grilse.  Others  followed,  and 
next  day  came  the  salmon.  Splendid  fellows  just  from 
the  sea,  their  scales  resplendent  with  the  reflected  light  of 
their  ocean  homes;  solid,  strong  and  brave,  leaping 
again  and  again,  madly  disdaining  restraint,  and  fighting 
fiercely  till  the  last.  The  wrater  was  strong;  in  some 
places  the  rapids  were  impassable.  Sad  to  tell,  the  fish 
knew  it,  and  alas,  too  often  darted  down  them,  whisking 
their  tails  in  joy  at  their  recovered  freedom.  Our  sport 
was  magnificent. 

After  fishing  the  Hound  Rocks  and  the  Bush  Falls,  we 
ascended  the  river  to  the  Pabineau  Falls,  where  we 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  141 

paused  only  to  exchange  friendly  greetings  with  two 
fellow  fishermen,  and  continuing  through  the  dark,  silent 
waters  of  the  Bittabock,  dined  at  the  Middle  Landing, 
where  the  stream  pours  seething  in  its  narrow  channel 
between  high  rocky  banks,  and  where  it  is  said  to  be  six 
fathoms  deep.  We  passed  another  angler  at  the  Chain 
of  Rocks,  and  reached  the  Grand  Falls  and  pitched  our 
tent  on  its  precipitous  shores  by  sundown. 

Wild  indeed  is  the  scenery  at  the  Grand  Falls,  the 
highest  point  the  salmon  reach.  The  falling  water,  in 
long  ages,  has  worn  away  a  channel  between  high  bluffs, 
and  now,  in  ordinary  seasons,  pours  through  a  narrow 
gorge  that  once  could  be  leaped  across,  but  which  has 
been  blasted  to  admit  the  passage  of  timber.  The  sheet 
of  water  falls  in  a  mass  of  foam  some  forty  feet,  the  spray 
rising  in  volumes,  and  producing  in  the  summer's  sun  a 
beautiful  mist  rainbow.  The  granite  rocks  have  been 
worn  in  deep  holes  by  revolving  bowlders,  and  in  winter 
the  whole  chasm,  filled  with  ice  and  water,  must  be 
grand  and  impressive  in  extreme. 

There  is  a  smaller,  second  fall,  which  the  salmon  occa- 
sionally try  to  leap  ;  but  they  spawn  in  the  pebbly  beds 
below,  the  whole  course  of  the  stream,  especially  at  the 
basin  a  short  distance  from  the  falls. 

The  principal  natural  fly  of  the  Nipisiquit  is  about 
three-quarters  of  an  inch  long,  has  a  yellow  body  and 
orange  tip,  two  short  whisks  and  two  long,  yellow 
antennge,  six  thick  yellow  legs,  a  large,  black  head,  a 
thick  yellow  body  with  nine  rings,  and  four  reticulated, 
dull  yellowish,  transparent  wings.  They  are  not  very 
abundant,  but  there  are  many  small  nocturnal  flies,  that 
will  be  drawn  together  with  a  light  in  swarms. 


142  NEW    BRUNSWICK. 

It  is  extremely  interesting  to  stand  on  the  rocks  over- 
hanging the  river  and  watch  the  salmon,  their  every 
motion  distinctly  visible,  and  their  numbers  readily 
counted.  When  one  is  casting  the  fly,  his  companion 
can  see  the  fish  move  to  take  it,  and  call  out  when  to 
strike.  Salmon  seem  to  rise  very  slowly  and  deliberately, 
and  can  be  observed  of  a  bright  day  together  in  crowds, 
holding  their  own  against  the  current  with  a  scarcely 
perceptible  effort.  'Not  one  in  a  hundred  will  notice  the 
fly ;  ordinarily  nothing  but  the  fins  are  in  motion,  but 
occasionally  an  individual  will  give  a  flirt  and  turn  up 
his  side,  which  flashes  like  silver  through  the  water. 

We  fished  the  Camp,  the  Falls,  the  Rock  and  Cooper's 
Pools  with  great  success ;  the  fish  were  numerous,  fine 
conditioned,  large  and  strong.  We  had  many  a  fierce 
contest ;  often  was  our  line  run  out  for  seventy  yards ;  the 
fish  made  splendid  leaps  and  vigorous  rushes,  but  we  lost 
very  few,  as  there  was  but  one  bad  place.  That  was 
below  the  Falls  Pool,  where  a  stake  had  caught  in  the 
middle  of  the  current ;  I  found  its  locality  by  losing  a 
fine  grilse  and  a  casting  line. 

The  days  wore  on  most  pleasantly ;  salmon  occupied 
all  our  thoughts.  The  first  thing  in  the  morning  we 
looked  for  salmon,  then  we  fished  for  salmon,  then  we 
breakfasted  on  salmon,  and  then  again  fished  for  them ; 
then  made  flies  to  catch  them,  next  dined  on  them,  again 
fished  for  them,  and  then  supped  off  them,  and  lastly 
dreamed  of  them.  But  the  happiest  and  longest  of  sum- 
mer days  must  end  j  our  time  came  to  return,  and  the 
camp  was  struck. 

The  river  is  quite  evenly  divided  between  the  various 
stopping-places,  and  it  is  almost  exactly  three  miles 


NEW    BRUNSWICK.  143 

between  each.  There  are  six  good  fishing  places:  the 
Grand  Falls,  Middle  Landing,  Bittabock,  Pabineau  Falls, 
Round  Rocks  and  Rough  Waters. 

We  stopped  at  our  original  camp,  the  Round  Rocks, 
and  there  we  struck  our  last  fish.  My  friend  hooked 
in  the  middle  of  the  current  a  noble  specimen,  that  gave 
such  splendid  play  that  I  laid  down  my  rod  to  witness 
the  contest.  The  bright  sides  of  the  fish,  as  he  leaped 
again  and  again  out  of  water,  proved  that  he  was  fresh 
run  and  strong,  an  impression  his  fierce  rushes  confirmed. 
He  was  played  with  great  care  and  delicacy ;  but  alas  ! 
suddenly  darted  across  the  current,  took  a  turn  around  a 
rock,  and  returning  passed  round  another.  All  hope  was 
given  up,  but  when  the  canoe  was  skillfully  pushed  across 
after  him,  he  was  found  to  be  still  on  and  the  line  uninjured 
by  the  smooth  rocks.  My  friend,  greatly  rejoiced,  had 
another  severe  contest,  and  foiled  two  determined  efforts 
at  escape  down  an  impassable  rapid,  and  when  compelled 
to  follow  him  through  some  very  rough  water,  did  it  in  a 
masterly  style,  standing  erect  in  the  canoe,  which  was 
ably  handled  by  the  two  Chamberlains,  and  guiding  the 
fish  through,  the  safest  channel.  Nearly  an  hour  had 
been  expended,  and  the  fish,  almost  exhausted,  made  one 
last  effort  to  reach  the  next  rapid,  and  being  prevented, 
came  alongside,  feebly  turning  over  and  over.  My  friend 
unfortunately  had  put  on  a  double  leader  and  could  not 
reel  up  short,  so  the  salmon  lay  deep  under  water,  dimly 
seen,  when  John  attempted  to  gaff  him.  At  that  instant 
the  fish  turned,  the  gaff  slipped,  he  made  a  rush  into  the 
current,  and  one  cry  from  my  friend,  "  There,  he's  off," 
told  the  tale.  The  line  sprung  up  into  the  air,  we  looked 


144 


NEW    BRUNSWICK. 


at  one  another  in  silence ;  the  occasion  was  too  sad  foi 
words.  My  friend  sat  down  upon  the  rocks  in  despair ; 
I  felt  for,  but  had  no  power  to  console  him.  At  last, 
slowly  and  sadly,  he  broke  the  mournful  silence :  "  Let 
us  go  home,"  he  said  ;  and  we  went. 

Good  bye,  lovely  Nipisiquit,  stream  of  the  beautiful 
pools,  the  fisherman's  elysium ;  farewell  to  thy  merry, 
noisy  current,  thy  long  quiet  stretches,  thy  high  bluffs, 
thy  wooded  and  thy  rocky  shores.  Long  may  thy  music 
lull  the  innocent  angler  into  day  dreams  of  happiness. 
Long  may  thy  deep  holes  afford  secure  havens  of  safety 
for  the  salmon,  where  they  can  bid  defiance  to  the  rapa- 
cious net  and  murderous  spear.  Long  may  thy  romantic 
scenery  charm  the  eye  and  gladden  the  heart  of  the  artist 
and  welcome  the  angler  to  a  happy  sylvan  home.  And 
often  may  I  visit  thee,  beautiful  Nipisiquit ! 


WHITE    TROUT    OF    THE    SCOODIAC.  145 


CHAPTEE    VII. 

OR   ST.    CKOIX. 

I  AM  unable  to  give  a  scientific  description  of  these 
beautiful  and  delicious  fish,  and  believe  they  have  never 
been  properly  described.  They  however  closely  resemble 
a  dwarfed  salmon,  and  have  been  supposed  to  be  these 
fish  landlocked,  prevented,  by  a  natural  or  artificial 
obstruction,  from  completing  their  annual  migrations  to 
and  from  the  sea.  The  better  opinion,  however,  is  that 
they  are  a  distinct  fish,  and  the. color  of  their  sides  natu- 
rally suggests  the  above  appellation,  although  they  have 
no  popular  name.  The  name  Scoodic  is  applied  gener- 
ally to  the  St.  Croix  River,  its  lakes  and  tributaries,  and 
in  Maine  they  are  known  as  the  St.  Croix  Trout,  in  New 
Brunswick  as  the  Scoodic  Trout,  while  Mr.  Perley  sug- 
gests that  they  may  be  the  Grey  Trout. 

They  are,  however,  extremely  tame  and  numerous, 
take  the  fly  readily,  afford  excellent  sport,  and  delicious 
eating.  They  weigh  from  one  pound  to  four,  and  may 
be  taken  in  hundreds.  The  season  commences  about  the 
first  of  June,  and  lasts  throughout  that  month,  and  the 
best  flies  are  the  gay  ones,  composed  mainly  of  feathers 
from  the  golden  pheasant.  The  scarlet  ibis  and  Irish 
lake  flies  are  prime  favorites. 

The  steamer  of  the  International  Line,  from  Boston  or 

7 


146  WHITE   TROUT    OF    THE    SCOODIAC. 

Portland,  connects  at  Eastport  with  a  river  boat  for  Ca- 
lais, whence  there  is  a  railroad  to  Lewis'  Island.  From 
Lewis'  Island  it  is  nine  miles  to  the  fishing-ground,  six 
of  which  are  by  water  and  three  by  land.  A  man 
named  Goole  will  take  the  baggage  over  the  portage, 
and  the  best  fishing  is  above  the  Grand  Falls,  between 
the  first  two  lakes.  Inquiries  must  be  made  at  the  time 
about  the  necessity  of  carrying  the  canoe  across  the  por- 
tage, as  often  no  canoe  can  be  obtained  at  the  fishin 
ground.  Of  course  the  angler  must  expect  to  camp  out 
and  will  provide  himself  accordingly. 


ae 

; 

it, 


WHITE-FISH.  147 


CHAPTEK     VIII. 

WHITE-FISH. 

Goregonus  Albus — Attihawmeg. — Although  included 
in  the  salmon  family  by  having  the  second  dorsal  adi- 
pose, and  the  fin-rays  soft,  this  fish  differs  totally  from 
either  the  trout  or  salmon.  It  has  minute  velvet-like 
teeth,  scarcely  perceptible  to  the  touch,  except  on  the 
gill-arches,  where  there  is  a  row  of  long  and  slim  ones, 
like  bristles ;  the  scales  are  large  and  the  body  com- 
pressed like  that  of  a  shad,  and  it  has  been  called  the 
Fresh-water  Shad.  The  mouth  is  very  small,  utterly  un- 
suited  for  seizing  the  prey  on  which  the  trout  and  salmon 
feed ;  the  color  of  the  back  is  greyish  blue,  and  the  sides 
white. 

Fin-rays,  D.  13.0  ;  P.  17;  Y.  12  ;  A.  13 ;  C.  19$,  the 
second  dorsal  being  adipose. 

The  proper  appellation  for  this  fish  is  the  Indian 
name,  Attihawmeg,  and  if  sportsmen  would  in  all  cases 
follow  the  names  used  by  the  aborigines  they  would 
show  more  sense  than  the  common  people  of  our  coun- 
try, who  think  every  fish  with  a  spiny  back  fin  must  be 
a  bass,  and  every  other  a  trout.  The  Attihawmeg 
abounds  in  Lake  Huron,  where  it  attains  a  weight  of 
twelve  to  fourteen  pounds,  and  is  tolerably  abundant  in 
Lakes  Erie,  Ontario  and  Michigan.  It  feeds  on  mussels 


148  WHITE-FISH. 

and  shellfish,  or  on  aquatic  plants,  and  is  usually  taken 
in  nets.  The  general  opinion  is  that  it  will  take  no  bait, 
natural  or  artificial;  but  it  might  be  tempted  by  the 
artificial  fly,  or  perhaps  the  cr  ay -fish.  It  is  the  finest 
fresh-water  fish  of  America  upon  the  table,  having  no 
rival  that  approaches  it  in  excellence  except  the  Otsego 
bass.  But  being  extremely  delicate,  it  should  be  eaten 
immediately  on  leaving  the  water,  and  is  never  in  condi- 
tion in  the  cities.  If  it  has  been  frozen,  as  is  always  the 
case  in  Winter,  the  Attihawmeg  is  utterly  worthless.  It 
is  unsurpassable  split  and  broiled,  very  similar  in  appear- 
ance and  flavor,  only  much  superior  to  the  shad.  It  is 
not  properly  a  game  fish,  whatever  may  be  thought  of  its 
delicacy  of  taste  and  appearance,  but  a  description  of  it 
is  necessary  to  complete  the  series  and  to  distinguish  it 
from  certain  others. 


Cisco.  149 


CHAPTEE  IX. 


CISCO. 


I  RECORD  a  description  of  this  fish  for  the  purpose  of 
calling  to  it  the  attention  of  those  who  have  the  requisite 
knowledge  to  determine  what  it  is,  and  beg  naturalists, 
if  it  is  still  undescribed,  to  leave  it  its  own  pretty,  ori- 
ginal name.  It  inhabits  Lake  Ontario,  near  its  outlet 
into  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  is  taken  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Cape  Yincent.  It  is  one  of  the  Coregonus  group,  but 
neither  the  White-fish,  Attihawmeg,  Coregonus  albus,  nor 
the  Otsego  Bass,  Coregonus  Otsego.  It  may  be  related 
to  the  Coregonus  dupeiformis,  although  differing  much 
from  the  meagre  description  of  the  latter  in  the  accounts 
copied  one  from  another,  of  Dr.  Mitchill,  Lesueur,  and 
Dr.  De  Kay. 

The  Cisco  is  not  so  compressed  nor  deep  as  the  white- 
fish  ;  the  teeth  are  more  delicate  and  velvety,  and  in  the 
gill  arches  are  a  few  long,  distinct,  slim  teeth  or  bristles. 
The  mouth  is  smaller  than  that  of  the  white-fish,  and 
when  open,  perfectly  square.  The  scales  are  similar  to 
those  on  the  latter,  but  the  tail  is  so  delicate  as  to  make 
counting  the  rays  mere  guesswork ;  the  point  of  the 
tongue  is  hard,  the  back  colored  green,  the  sides  silver 
white,  while  the  first  ray  of  the  pectoral,  ventral  and 
anal  fins  is  darkish.  The  first  dorsal  has  ten  soft  rays , 


150  CISCO. 

the  second  is  adipose  ;  the  pectoral  has  fourteen  soft 
rajs,  the  ventral  eleven,  the  anal  twelve,  and  the  caudal, 
as  well  as  I  could  count  them,  fourteen.  It  is  a  very- 
beautiful  and  delicate  fish,  more  so  even  than  the  white- 
fish. 

The  cisco  is  taken  at  Cape  Yincent,  with  the  eel-fly 
baited  on  a  small  hook  and  dibbled  along  the  top  of  the 
water,  and  is  said  not  to  notice  any  artificial  fly.  I  unfor- 
tunately had  no  chance  to  try,  though  I  saw  them  rising 
and  taking  the  natural  fly  readily.  They  do  not  rise  with 
the  rush  of  a  salmon  or  trout,  never  springing  out  of  water, 
and  simply  show  their  heads  as  they  seize  their  prey. 
The  eel-fly  is  a  fat  and  sluggish  fly,  and  it  may  be  that 
the  fish  rising  slowly,  as  they  naturally  do,  would  disco- 
ver the  deception  even  if  an  imitation  eel-fly  were  offered 
to  them.  This  fly,  as  I  have  elsewhere  observed,  is  simi- 
lar, both  in  appearance  and  habits,  to  the  famous  Euro- 
pean May-fly. 

The  fish  known  as  the  lake  herring,  salmo  clupeifor- 
vwS)  although  very  similar  in  appearance,  has  certain  dis- 
tinctive characteristics ;  for  instance,  there  are  minute 
teeth  on  the  tongue,  and  the  fin-rays,  as  I  make  them, 
are — 

D.  12  ;  P.  16  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  11 ;  C.  19f ;  B.  9. 

According  to  Lesueur — 

D.  12  ;  P.  16  ;  Y.  12  ;  A.  14  ;  C.  19|. 

In  the  lake  herring  I  also  found  the  first  ray  of  the 
dorsal  the  longest,  although  Lesueur  says  it  is  simple 
and  short ;  the  tail  is  deeply  forked.  The  dorsal  termi- 
nates nearly  opposite  the  ventrals,  and  the  second  dorsal 
is  opposite  the  centre  of  the  anal. 


OTSEGO   BASS.  151 


CHAPTEK    X. 

OTSEGO  BA6S. 

Coregonus  Otsego.—This  fish  must  be  carefully  distin- 
guished from  the  Oswego  Bass,  there  being  no  resem- 
blance except  in  the  stupidity  of  confounding  by  name 
one  of  the  perch  family,  to  which  the  latter  belongs,  with 
one  of  the  salmon  family,  to  which  this  belongs.  The 
Otsego  Bass  is  closely  allied  to  the  white-fish,  but  has 
numerous  dusky  longitudinal  lines  on  the  sides.  Its 
mouth  and  scales  are  small,  and  it  appears  to  have  no 
teeth  except  the  bristles  on  the  gill-arches.  The  lateral 
line  is  nearly  straight,  and  the  tail  is  deeply  forked. 
The  back  is  a  rich  blue,  fading  into  green,  the  sides  bril- 
liant with  mother  of  pearl,  and  the  belly  gleaming  like 
molten  silver.  The  rays  are  as  follows  : 

Br.  9  ;  D.  13  ;  P.  17  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  11 ;  C.  22. 

The  second  back  fin,  as  in  all  the  salmon  tribe,  is  adi- 
pose and  rayless. 

These  fish  have  as  yet  only  been  found  in  Otsego 
Lake,  where  they  are  rapidly  diminishing  in  size  and 
numbers.  They  are  not  known  to  take  any  bait,  and 
are  presumed  to  feed  on  aquatic  vegetation.  Early  in 
spring  they  seek  the  shallow  water  for  a  few  days,  when 

I  they  are   taken  in  nets ;    but   shortly  retiring  to  the 
deepest  water,  they  remain  till  Autumn,   when   they 


152  OTSEGO    BASS. 

again  seek  the  shores  to  spawn.  They  never  exceed 
four  pounds,  and  rarely  two,  and  though  undesirable 
on  table,  are  not  a  sportsman's  fish,  and  have  been 
described  only  that  they  may  be  distinguished  from 
other  species. 


THE    BLUE-FISH. 


153 


CHAPTEK    XI. 


THE   BLUE-FISH. 

Temnodon    Saltator — Scomler  Plumbeus  (Mitchill) — 
Torse  Mackerel — Green-fish  of  Virginia — Skipjack  of 

Carolina. 

This  fish  belongs  to  the  mackerel  family  ;  it  has  pro- 
jecting teeth  in  the  fore  part  of  the  jaws,  and  velvety 
ieth  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth  and  tongue.    The  first  dor- 
il  lies  in  a  furrow,  and  there  are  two  minute  spines  con- 
led  under  the  skin  before  the  anal.     The  scales  extend 
>ver  the  head,  gill-covers  and  high  on  the  fins  ;  the  back 
bluish-green,  and  the  sides  and  abdomen  lighter  ;  the 
jtorals,   second   dorsal   and  tail   are  greenish-brown, 
rhile  the  ventrals  and  anal  are  white,  tinged  with  blue. 
?he  gill-cover  has  two  indistinct  flat  points.     The  fin- 
lys  are  as  follows,  the  spines  being  distinguished  from 
le  soft  rays. 

D.  7.1.25  ;  P.  17 ;  Y.  1.5  ;  A.  1.2T  ;  C.  19| 
These  fish  furnish  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances 
the  appearance  and  disappearance  of  species  on  our 
joast.     As  in  our  day,  with  the  Spanish  mackerel,  that 
larling  of  the  gourmand,  so  in  former  times,  the  blue-fish 
ippeared  suddenly.     He  was  first  seen  on  the  coast  of 
[assachusetts  in  1764,  and  then  not  again  till  1792 ;  and 
it  is  only  since  the  year  1830  that  he  has  been  abundant. 


154:  THE   BLUE-FISH. 

He  seems  to  have  superseded  another  and  larger  fish  of 
the  same  name,  and  as  his  numbers  augment,  those  of 
the  weak-fish,  otolithus  regalis,  diminish.  The  blue-fish 
has  singular  vagaries,  sometimes  crowding  every  inlet 
in  swarms,  and  then  deserting  us  altogether,  visiting  in 
one  season  one  locality  and  in  the  next  another,  but  ordi- 
narily frequenting  our  entire  coast  north  to  Massachusetts. 

They  afford  excellent  sport  on  a  rod  and  line,  being 
among  the  strongest  and  boldest  of  their  kind,  taking 
the  fly  readily,  and  making  fierce  and  well-sustained 
rushes ;  but  from  the  localities  they  usually  frequent, 
they  are  mostly  taken  with  a  hand-line  from  a  sailboat. 
An  artificial  squid  of  bone,  ivory  or  lead,  is  trailed  along 
at  the  end  of  forty  yards  of  stout  line,  from  a  boat 
dancing  merrily  over  the  waves  under  the  influence  of  a 
fresh  mackerel  breeze.  The  boatman's  business  is  to 
watch  for  a  shoal,  which  can  be  seen  by  their  breaking, 
and  when  he  has  found  it,  by  repeated  tacks  to  keep  the 
boat  in  or  near  it ;  the  fisherman's  duty  is  to  haul  in 
steadily  and  regularly  immediately  on  feeling  a  bite, 
and  to  get  out  his  line  again  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
fish  dart  forward,  and  throwing  themselves  out  of  water, 
turn  a  complete  somersault,  when,  if  the  line  is  not  taught, 
they  will  throw  the  hook  out  of  their  mouths.  The  dash- 
ing of  the  waves  and  flying  of  the  spray,  the  rapid  exhi- 
larating motion  of  the  vessel,  the  fresh  sea-breeze,  the 
rapid  biting  and  fine  play  of  the  fish,  make  a  day  pass 
pleasantly  if  they  do  not  afford  scientific  sport. 

Blue-fish  attain  a  weight  of  thirty  pounds,  and  the 
largest  being  usually  taken  outside  the  bars,  beyond  the 
breakers,  are  a  source  of  much  amusement  to  our  yachts- 


THE    BLUE-FISH.  155 

men  ;  but  the  arms  of  the  fisherman  soon  weary,  and 
their  hands,  unless  protected  by  leather  gloves,  are  often 
seriously  lacerated.  The  fishing  can  hardly  be  said  to 
begin  till  July,  and  continues  till  late  in  the  Autumn  ; 
the  smaller  fish  are  taken  early. 

If  cooked  when  just  out  of  their  native  element,  these 
fish  are  excellent,  but  they  soon  lose  their  flavor.  They 
should  be  broiled,  or  split  and  nailed  on  a  shingle  and 
roasted  quickly  before  a  hot  fire. 

Undoubtedly  they  could  be  taken  with  the  trolling 
spoon,  and  a  stout  leader  of  double  gut  running  on 
swivel  traces  attached  to  a  dark  hand-line  would  add 
greatly  to  the  success.  In  fact,  like  all  other  fish,  at 
times  they  are  shy  and  must  be  fished  for  with  fine 
tackle,  and  then  the  rod  and  line  come  into  play.  In 
fishing  with  a  rod  from  a  sailboat,  the  moment  a  fish  is 
struck  the  sheet  is  eased  off,  the  boat  run  up  into  the  wind, 
and  the  fish  killed  at  leisure ;  if  the  boat  were  kept  in 
motion,  the  strain  would  be  too  great  for  the  rod  and 
reel. 

One  of  the  favorite  haunts  of  blue-fish,  although  they 
frequent  the  entire  length  and  breadth  of  the  Great 
South  Bay  of  Long  Island,  is  Fire  Island  Inlet ;  and 
there,  of  a  bright  summer  day,  may  be  seen  congregated 
the  white  sails  of  fifty  boats  tossing  about  in  the  roll  of 
the  breakers,  clustering  together  as  the  shoals  collect,  or 
scattering  far  out  to  sea  in  the  hopes  of  better  luck. 
There,  when  the  wind  blows,  they  may  be  seen  under 
double  reef,  plunging  along,  throwing  the  spray  from 
their  bows,  or,  if  a  milder  day,  under  full  sail,  generally 
a  single  one,  sweeping  over  the  quiet  waters.  Moderate 


156  THE    BLUE-FISH. 

weather  is  the  best,  and  it  is  no  use  fishing  unless  the 
fish  are  on,  which  means  that  their  visits  are  variable. 
At  midday,  when  they  generally  cease  biting,  the  adven- 
turous fisherman  may  land  on  Raccoon  Beach,  immor- 
talized by  the  genial  wit  of  J.  Cypress,  jr.,  and  either 
cook  his  fish  by  a  fire  built  from  the  waifs  of  the  sea, 
which  I  decidedly  recommend,  or  get  a  fashionable  din- 
ner from  Dominy  or  "  t'other  man  "  that  keeps  a  hotel 
there.  At  this  time  it  will  be  found,  and  I  note  the  fact 
for  the  benefit  of  future  generations,  that  a  little  liquor 
containing  condensed  carbonic  acid  gas  and  vulgarly 
called  champagne,  with  water  reduced  to  the  tempera- 
ture of  freezing  and  commonly  called  ice,  will  be  pleas- 
ing to  the  palate  and  beneficial  to  the  inner  man.  In 
explanation  of  this  episode,  I  may  say  I  have  just  been 
there. 


SNAPPING    MACKEREL.  157 


CHAPTER  XII. 

SNAPPING     MACKEREL. 

Temnodon  Saltator. — One  of  the  gayest,  merriest,  live- 
liest, little  fish  that  chases  and  devours  those  smaller 
than  himself,  and  is  chased  and  devoured  by  such  as  are 
irger,  is  the  Snapping  Mackerel,  the  young  of  the  pre- 
rious  species,  but  individualized  from  the  voracity  with 
which  he  snaps  at  the  live  or  dead  bait.     He  is  a  beau- 
tiful, silver-sided  little  fellow,  weighing  from  an  ounce 
to  half  a  pound,  and  makes  his  appearance  in  immense 
numbers  along  our  coast  in  the  latter  part  of  September 
or  fore  part  of  October. 

"  Whence  he  comes, 
Whither  he  goes, 
Nobody  cares 
And  nobody  knows." 

He  must  have  just  arrived,  however,  from  the  parents' 
spawning  ground,  his  diminutive  size  proving  that  he  has 
lot  been  long  out  of  the  shell.     He  roams  about,  at  first 
small  numbers,  but  soon  increasing  to  multitudes,  and 
jives  active  chase  to  the  minnow  and  spearing,  that  may 
seen  momentarily  springing  out  of  water  in  their 
intic  efforts  to  escape  his  charges.     He  lurks  in  the 
foaming  water  of  a  mill-tail  or  sluiceway,  or  in  the  eddy- 
current  of  the  receding  tide,  watching  for  his  prey 


158  SNAPPING    MACKEREL. 

as  they  swim  or  are  drifted  along  unsuspiciously.  He 
makes  one  dash,  a  dozen  startled  spearing  leap  into  the 
air,  and  swim  for  dear  life ;  but  the  victim  is  generally 
carried  off,  a  dainty  and  epicurean  meal. 

Spearing  invariably  swim  near  the  surface  ;  they  haunt 
the  gates  of  tide-mills  when  the  tide  is  rising,  and  are 
drifted  in  with  the  current  when  the  gates  open  before 
the  advancing  waters.  The  snappers  take  the  opportu- 
nity, not  merely  to  plunge  among  the  shoals  before  the 
gates  lift,  but  afterward,  when  the  spearing,  who  are 
helpless  in  a  strong  current,  are  swept  along,  to  pounce 
upon  them. 

Of  course  in  such  places  they  can  be  captured  with 
most  success.  "When  they  first  make  their  appearance, 
not  longer  than  your  forefinger,  but  tender  and  delicate 
beyond  belief,  they  may  be  found  at  low  water  in  the 
rivulets  of  white  froth  that  run  bubbling  from  holes  and 
leaks  in  the  mill-gates.  The  best  mode  of  taking  them 
at  this  time,  for  they  are  small  and  fastidious,  is  with  a 
salmon-rod  and  a  tiny  spearing  on  a  Limerick  hook ;  by 
making  casts  and  drawing  the  bait  along  the  surface  of 
the  water  and  through  the  frothy  eddies,  the  young  inno- 
cents are  deceived,  and  thinking  to  prey  upon  their 
weaker  brethren,  become  themselves  a  palatable  viand 
for  larger  creatures.  They  break  like  trout,  without 
throwing  themselves  out  of  water,  but  with  a  noisy  snap, 
and  if  they  miss  the  bait  at  first,  will  follow  it  resolutely. 
It  is  no  mean  sport  to  stand  upon  the  old  worm-eaten, 
weather-stained  bridge,  and  wield  the  long  rod,  playing 
your  allurement  over  the  water  to  the  music  of  the  rush- 
ing current  and  the  steady  clack  of  the  mill-wheel,  and 


SNAPPING    MACKEREL.  159 

see  one  after  another  of  the  green-backed,  silvery  snap- 
pers dart  from  under  the  accumulated  froth,  chase  and 
swallow  your  bait,,  and  no  slight  satisfaction  to  observe 
the  increasing  number  in  your  basket,  and  think  of  how 
your  friends  will  enjoy  their  supper  that  night. 

There  is  one  singular  fact  to  be  observed,  that  whereas 
blue-fish  invariably  take  the  invitation  squid,  or  artificial 
fly,  with  voracity,  the  snapping  mackerel,  except  in  the 
South  Bay  of  Long  Island,  can  rarely  be  tempted  by  it. 
In  Long  Island  Sound  I  have  failed  with  the  fly  and  the 
spoon  entirely,  and  have  found  the  gutta  percha  minnow 
to  work  only  passably,  whereas  in  the  South  Bay  they 
are  taken  readily  with  a  leaden  squid,  of  a  peculiar 
shape,  run  on  a  large  hook  and  polished  bright. 

The  spearing  is  their  favorite  food,  but  the  extreme 
sensitiveness  of  that  remarkable  little  fish,  that  renders 
keeping  him  alive  impossible,  injures  the  attractive- 
ness of  the  bait.  As  has  been  elsewhere  observed, 
when  small  fish  are  used,  it  is  desirable  to  keep  them 
alive  if  possible,  and  the  snappers  will  often  give  the 
preference  to  a  lively  killey,  that  by  his  efforts  to  escape 
incites  the  eagerness  of  their  pursuit,  over  a  dead  spear- 
ing, that  by  his  peculiar  manner  of  resting  in  the  water 
arouses  their  suspicions. 

As  the  season  advances,  the  fish  are  found  in  all  rapid 
currents  of  the  salt  water,  and  the  barred  killey  is  by  far 
the  most  killing  bait.  The  best  way  of  rigging  your 
tackle  is  to  have  a  small  float  and  light  swivel  sinker, 
below  which  there  is  a  short  leader  of  gut.  The  latter  is 
fastened  to  the  middle  of  a  piece  of  whalebone  or  wire 
about  two  inches  long,  to  each  end  of  which  the  hook, 


160  SNAPPING    MACKEREL. 

dressed  on  gut,  is  attached.  As  the  teeth  of  these  vora- 
cious fish  are  sharp,  and  after  being  hooked  they  snap 
continually,  the  silk  whipping  of  the  hook,  as  well  as  the 
gut  itself,  is  soon  bitten  through.  Either  a  small  quill 
may  be  slipped  down  over  the  hook  before  it  is  attached, 
and  into  this  the  teeth  sink  without  damage,  or  care  must 
be  taken  to  put  a  couple  of  half  hitches  with  the  snell 
over  the  shank,  as  the  whipping  wears  out. 

A  light  rod  and  reel  are  necessary  for  this  sport,  and 
there  is  the  same  skill  and  excitement  in  the  repeated 
casts  that  lend  to  striped  bass  fishing  one  of  its  peculiar 
charms.  The  morning  hours,  the  last  of  the  ebb  and  first 
of  the  flood,  are  the  most  propitious  times ;  but  as  the 
Fall  advances,  any  hour,  tide  or  place  will  furnish  sport 
in  abundance. 

I  was  once  fishing  with  a  friend  whose  experience  is 
greater  with  the  pencil  than  the  rod,  on  one  of  those 
glorious  evenings  of  what  might  be  properly  styled  in 
our  country  "  fiery  brown  October,"  and  our  success 
made  us  unmindful  of  the  fleeting  hours  that  had  bid  the 
sun  farewell  and  welcomed  the  moon  from  her  bed. 
Cramped  as  we  had  been  in  a  cockle-shell  of  a  boat,  we 
had  taken  one  of  the  thwarts  and  the  oars,  and  placing 
them  across  the  gunwale,  had  made  two  high  but  dan- 
gerous seats.  The  boat  was  extremely  unsteady,  and 
many  and  solemn  had  been  my  unheeded  warnings  to 
move  as  little  as  possible,  and  to  exercise  care  in  what- 
ever motions  were  unavoidably  necessary.  The  fish  were 
out  in  force,  and  seized  our  bait  frantically  the  instant  it 
touched  waves,  over  which  the  moonlight  glanced  in 
tiny  ripples.  A  northeaster  had  been  blowing,  but,  dying 


SNAPPING    MACKEREL.  161 

away,  left  only  a  long,  heaving  swell,  that  was  broken  by 
neighboring  projecting  rocks,  and  in  no  wise  added  to  the 
steadiness  of  the  boat.  Our  eagerness  increased  with 
the  increasing  darkness,  and  when  unable  longer  to  see 
our  floats,  we  cast  out  and  reeled  in,  finding  generally  a 
worthy  reward  for  our  pains.  The  fun  grew  fast  and 
faster  ;  at  one  particular  place  we  were  always  sure  of  a 
fish.  To  reach  it  was  a  long  cast,  and  my  friend,  in  an 
effort  to  excel  himself,  leaned  back  for  a  vigorous  throw, 
lost  his  balance,  and  toppled  overboard.  His  weight,  as 
he  went  on  one  side,  careened  the  boat,  threw  me  down 
to  leeward,  and  let  the  water  pour  in  over  the  gunwale 
in  barrels.  Down  almost  under  water  I  saw  the  other 
gunwale  turned  up  and  nearly  over  me,  when  my  friend, 
falling  headlong  out,  gave  the  boat  a  lift,  of  which  I 
took  advantage  by  getting  back  amidships  pretty  well 
ducked,  but  not  yet  cast  away.  The  water  was  nearly 
up  to  the  seats,  but  by  careful  balancing,  I  could  keep 
her  afloat.  Imagine  my  horror  when  my  friend  reap- 
peared from  the  oozy  depths  to  which  he  had  descended, 
and  commenced  madly  trying  to  clamber  over  the  side. 
I  begged  and  besought  him  to  think  of  what  he  was 
doing ;  that  I  was  still  partially  dry  ;  that  my  watch  was 
a  patent  lever ;  that  I  had  a  family  of  small  children ; 
and  that  the  boat  would  never,  in  her  present  state,  hold 
us  both.  Reluctantly  he  listened  to  reason,  and  allowed 
me  to  bail  her  out  with  a  bucket  we  had  provioled  to 
carry  our  fish.  As  I  threw  out  the  water  I  could  just 
see  with  deep  regret,  in  the  moonlight,  the  sparkle  of 
fish  after  fish  that  I  was  unavoidably  throwing  away,  and 
that  I  hoped  would  have  served  so  different  a  purpose. 


162 


SNAPPING    MACKEREL. 


She  was  finally  freed  of  water ;  hats,  oars  and  rod  were 
picked  up,  the  latter  by  means  of  the  float  that  was 
calmly  fishing  all  by  itself;  my  friend,  who  had  swam  to 
and  was  shivering  on  a  neighboring  rock,  was  taken 
aboard,  and  we  returned,  solemn  and  sad,  my  friend  very 
cold  and  myself  greatly  disgusted. 

In  fishing,  therefore,  for  snappers,  it  is  better  not  to 
fall  overboard ;  but  if,  by  your  awkwardness  of  doing  so, 
you  half  fill  the  boat,  never  try  to  climb  in  over  the  side, 
but  sacrifice  yourself  bravely.  We  were  using  on  this 
occasion  a  bait  that,  late  in  the  season,  is  often  more  suc- 
cessful than  any  other — a  part  of  the  fish  himself.  This, 
in  the  early  fishing,  they  will  not  touch;  but  in  cold 
weather,  frequently  prefer. 

It  is  a  singular  fact,  that  although  blue-fish  have  always 
abounded  in  the  Great  South  Bay,  snapping  mackerel 
were  unknown  there  till  lately ;  whereas,  while  the  latter 
have  been  abundant  in  Long  Island  Sound  from  time 
immemorial,  the  former  have  never  been  taken  there  to 
any  great  extent. 


THE    COMMON    CARP.  163 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

THE     COMMON     CARP. 

Cyprinus  Carpio. — This,  as  well  as  the  goldfish,  Cy- 
prinus auratus,  is  not  a  native  of  our  country,  but  has 
been  introduced  from  Europe,  and  naturalists  have  sup- 
posed that  there  is  no  native  carp  of  any  size  in  this 
country.  I  have  seen  a  fish  called  the  "Western  Carp, 
which,  although  I  had  no  chance  to  more  than  sketch  its 
head,  was  certainly  a  true  carp,  and  of  four  or  five  pounds' 
weight.  It  had  large  scales,  and  all  the  fin-rays  soft, 
except  the  first  anal,  which  was  robust. 

JThe  common  carp,  which  has  increased  with  amazing 
rapidity  till  it  is  found  everywhere  in  the  Hudson  River, 
has  a  small  mouth,  fleshy  lips  without  teeth,  large  scales, 
three  branchial  rays  and  teeth  on  the  pharyngeals ;  has 
the  first  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fin  serrated  behind, 
has  two  barbels  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  and  a  smaller 
one  above  on  each  side,  small  eyes,  large  nostrils,  a  high 
back  and  radiating  striae  on  the  gill-cover.  The  color  is 
a  golden  olive,  lighter  underneath. 

These  delicate  fish,  having  become  acclimated,  and 
finding  the  Hudson  River  suitable  to  their  wants,  are 
increasing  rapidly  in  size  and  numbers ;  but  none  that  I 
have  seen  equal  the  western  carp  or  are  properly  game 
fish. 


164  MASCALLONGE. 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

MASCALLONGE. 

Esox  Estor — Masqueallonge — Muskellunge — Musca* 
linga — Masquinongy — Maslcinonge — Muscanonga. 

The  sides  of  the  body  are  marked  with  numerous 
rounded,  distinct  greyish  spots.  Three  bands  of  card- 
like  teeth  are  situated  on  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  on  the 
palatines  and  vomer,  converging  to  a  point  toward  the 
snout.  There  are  long,  sharp,  distinct  teeth  along  the 
edges  of  the  upper  and  lower  jaw,  and  continued  to  the 
extremity  of  the  latter,  although  some  authorities  assert 
the  contrary.  The  gill-arches  are  also  covered  with 
teeth.  Mascallonge  reach  a  length  of  about  six  feet  and 
a  weight  of  seventy  pounds,  and  the  comparative  length 
of  the  head  with  the  whole  fish  is  as  one  to  four.  The 
fin-rays  are  as  follows : 

Branchial  or  gill-rays  20 ;  Dorsal  18  ;  Pectoral  16  ; 
Yentral  11 ;  Anal  IT ;  Caudal  24  ;  according  to  my  best 
computation. 

Br.  18  ;  D.  21 ;  P.  13  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  21 ;  0.  19f —./>/•. 
De  Kay. 

D.  21 ;  P.  14  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  IT ;  C.  26.— Dr.  Mitchill. 

D.  22  ;  P.  18  ;  Y.  13  ;  A.  20 ;  C.  W.—Prof.  Agassis. 

The  lateral  line  is  not  continuous,  the  under  jaw  is 
more  elongated  than  that  of  the  northern  pickerel  and 


MASCALLONGE.  165 

some  fish  have  on  their  sides  dark  spots  on  a  light  grey- 
ish ground. 

The  name  of  this  fish  is  derived  from  Masque  allonge^ 
long  snout,  which  is  a  translation  from  the  Canadian 
Indian  dialect,  of  Masca-nonga,  words  which  have  the 
same  signification  ;  and  from  corruptions  of  these  two 
designations  arise  our  numerous  names.  I  took  great 
pains  to  ascertain  precisely  how  the  Canadian  boatmen, 
who  are  a  cross  of  the  Indian  and  Frenchman,  pro- 
nounced this  name,  although,  in  their  French  patois,  he 
is  ordinarily  called  Srochat^  and  the  best  my  ears  could 
make  of  it  was  Mas-  or  Muscallung^  the  latter  syllable 
being  guttural.  But  as  the  most  sonorous,  expressive 
and  appropriate  name  is  Mascallonge,  it  is  desirable  that 
all  sportsmen  should  employ  it. 

There  is  a  dispute  as  to  the  size  and  weight  that  these 
fish  attain,  and  while  some  writers  claim  for  them  a  fabu- 
lous size,  others  entirely  underrate  them.  Mr.  S.  D.  Johns- 
ton, the  proprietor  of  the  "Walton  House,  at  Clayton,  a  son 
of  Mr.  Johnston,  who  was  a  prominent  man  in  the  Cana- 
dian rebellion,  and  for  many  years  forced  to  hide  among 
the  Thousand  Isles  and  live  by  his  hook  and  spear,  said 
that  the  largest  fish  he  ever  saw  was  taken  by  his  father, 
who,  in  one  night,  speared  two  Mascallonge  weighing 
respectively  sixty-three  and  forty-two  pounds.  There  is 
plenty  of  authority  to  prove  that  there  was  taken  near 
Clayton,  in  the  year  1859,  a  mascallonge  that  measured 
five  feet  seven  inches  in  length,  and  weighed  fifty-one  and 
three-quarter  pounds,  that  it  was  poor  and  thin,  and  in 
good  condition  would  probably  have  weighed  over  sixty 
pounds.  One  fisherman  caught  in  a  single  year  twelve 


166  MASCALLONGE. 

mascallonge,  ranging  from  twenty-one  to  forty-four 
pounds.  Larger  fish  and  far  greater  numbers  may  per- 
haps be  taken  in  wilder  waters,  and,  indeed,  in  some  of 
the  lakes  in  the  remote  parts  of  Canada  these  fish  are 
innumerable. 

Their  length,  proportionally  to  their  weight,  is,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  peculiar  shape,  excessive ;  a  fish  of 
twenty-five  pounds'  weight  will  measure  forty-six  inches 
in  length  by  six  in  depth,  and  a  fish  of  seventy  pounds 
it  is  presumed  would  be  over  six  feet  in  length.  Although 
this  is  not  quite  equal  to  the  great  pike  of  Pliny,  that 
weighed  a  thousand  pounds,  and  was  drawn  out  by  a 
pair  of  oxen,  and  caught  on  a  hook  attached  to  an  ox 
chain,  it  must  be  regarded  by  the  most  fastidious  as 
respectable  for  the  present  degenerate  days.  If  the 
accounts  we  receive  are  reliable,  the  pike  of  Europe,  of 
which  the  old  song  erroneously  says  : 

"  Turkeys,  carps,  hoppes,  piccarel  and  beer 
Came  into  England  all  in  one  year," 

vastly  surpass  ours  in  size,  a  fish  being  taken  in  a  pond 
near  Stockholm  with  a  brass  ring  round  his  neck,  having 
an  inscription  to  the  effect  that  he  had  been  put  into  the 
pond  by  the  hands  of  Frederick  the  Second  in  1230,  or  267" 
years  before.  He  weighed  350  pounds,  and  measured  fif- 
teen feet,  and  his  skeleton  was  a  long  time  preserved  at 
Manheim.  The  ring  was  arranged  with  springs  so  as  to 
enlarge  as  he  grew.  The  Shannon  is  said  to  have  pro- 
duced a  pike  of  ninety-two  pounds,  and  Lock  Spey  one  of 
one  hundred  and  forty-six ;  but,  when  reading  of  these 
accounts,  I  feel  like  the  Yankee,  who,  when  boasting  of 


MASCALLONGE. 


167 


his  great  country,  and  especially  its  great  cataract,  was 
somewhat  taken  aback  by  being  told  his  land  produced 
no  volcanoes,  nothing  to  equal  Vesuvius  or  Etna,  but 
who,  after  thinking  a  moment,  replied  :  "  That  was  true 
those  were  big  fires,  but  he  guessed  Niagara  had  water 
enough  to  put  them  all  out."  So  I  think  our  mascallonge 
could  eat  up  the  biggest  pike  Europe  can  produce  ;  and 
it  will  be  a  pity  if,  when  our  country  is  as  old  as  Europe, 
we  cannot  tell  as  extensive  stories. 


Head  of  Western  Carp. 


168  PICKEREL. 


CHAPTEK    XY. 

PICKEREL. 

IN  some  remarkable  and  incomprehensible  manner  the 
good  old  name  of  Pike  has  fallen  into  disuse,  and  is  now 
applied  in  this  country  to  a  fish  that  is  not  a  pike  at  all, 
but  a  perch,  Lucio  perca,  the  Pike  Perch,  Big-eyed  Pike, 
or  Glass  Eye  of  the  Lakes ;  while  the  name  Pickerel, 
which  is  merely  the  diminutive  of  Pike,  is  appropriated 
to  the  most  gigantic  and  ferocious  monsters  of  the  deep. 
There  is  no  fish  whose  appearance  is  more  appalling,  and 
whose  appetite  is  more  ravenous  than  the  Great  Northern 
Pickerel,  which  is  alleged  to  attain  a  weight  of  twenty 
pounds,  and  which,  in  its  fury,  will  pounce  upon  and 
swallow  almost  any  small  moving  object.  Nor  does  it 
much  surpass  the  common  pickerel  of  our  ponds,  which 
has  very  similar  habits,  and  sometimes  weighs  as  high  as 
ten  pounds. 

The  pickerel  family,  like  most  of  the  fish  of  America, 
have  never  been  properly  classified  by  the  scientific,  nor 
named  by  the  vulgar.  In  fact,  they,  with  the  exception 
of  the  mascallonge,  appear  to  have  no  specific  names  in 
common  parlance,  while  naturalists  have  vague  or  no 
acquaintance  with  their  peculiarities.  Sportsmen  and 
others  speak  of  catching  pickerel,  whether  it  be  in  the 
St.  Lawrence,  Great  Northern  Pickerel,  which  seem  to 


PICKEREL.  169 

have  had  no  scientific  designation  till  named  by  Agassiz 
Esox  Lucioides,  or  on  Long  Island,  Esox  Fasciatus,  or 
on  our  principal  inland  waters,  Esox  Reticulatus,  or  in 
some  of  the  lakes  of  the  Eastern  States,  where  a  fish  is 
caught,  of  which  Dr.  De  Kay,  in  his  "  Natural  History 
of  New  York,"  doubts  the  existence,  and  which  Dr. 
Mitchill  has  dubbed  the  Federation  Pike,  Esox  Tredecem- 
radiatus.  In  truth,  the  distinction  between  the  Mascal- 
longe  and  the  Great  Northern  Pickerel  is  scarcely  visi- 
ble even  to  the  eye  of  science,  and  to  the  unlearned  is 
marked  only  by  a  slight  difference  in  the  shape  of  the 
head  and  the  coloring  of  the  sides.  The  light  tint  is  yel- 
low in  the  pickerel  and  white  in  the  mascallonge,  while 
in  the  latter  at  times  the  sides  have  dark  spots  on  a 
white  ground  instead  of  the  dark  network  of  the  pick- 
erel. It  has  even  been  doubted  whether  these  fish  are 
not  identical,  and  the  differences  of  size  and  color  pro- 
duced by  local  habits ;  but  the  views  of  all  practical  fish- 
ermen lean  the  other  way,  and  they  can  at  once  distin- 
guish the  smallest  mascallonge  from  the  largest  pickerel, 
although  they  are  unable  to  point  out  the  precise  dis- 
tinctive characteristics  ;  while  scientific  men  do  make 
out  that  there  is  a  difference  in  the  number  of  the  fin- 
rays.  For  the  latter,  however,  although  I  have  given 
the  most  careful  attention  that  could  be  expected  from 
an  amateur,  my  enumeration  differs  from  that  of  all 
others  as  they  differ  among  themselves.  My  computa- 
tion of  the  fin-rays  gave — 

Dorsal  18  ;  Pectoral  16 ;  Ventral  11  ;  Anal  IT  ;  Cau- 
dal 24. 

While  according  to  Dr.  Mitchill  they  were  respectively, 

8 


170  PICKEREL. 

D.  21 ;  P.  14  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  17 ;  C.  26. 

And  according  to  Dr.  De  Kay — 

D.  21 ;  P.  13  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  21 ;  C.  19f 

And  according  to  Professor  Agassiz — 

D.  22  ;  P.  18  ;  Y.  13  ;  A.  20  ;  C.  26. 

This  goes  to  show  that  either  it  is  very  difficult  to 
count  the  fin-rays,  or  that  they  differ ;  to  the  latter  of 
which  suppositions  my  belief  inclines,  as  I  think  the 
older  the  fish  the  more  fin-rays  are  formed,  or  so  hard- 
ened as  to  be  perceptible. 

The  habits  of  this  class  of  fish  are  as  similar  as  their 
appearance,  and  whether  you  capture  a  tiny  pickerel  with 
your  fly  in  some  shallow  Long  Island  water,  or  entrap 
the  huge  mascallonge  with  a  treble  hook  half  concealed 
beneath  red  flannel  and  shining  tin,  they  rush  with  the 
same  eagerness  and  grasp  with  the  same  determination. 
I  amused  myself  one  evening  on  Long  Island  in  casting 
over  a  newly-made  shallow  pond  with  my  ordinary  trout 
cast  of  flies,  and  seeing  the  ferocity  with  which  pickerel, 
varying  from  four  to  nine  inches  in  length,  would  dart 
upon  their  anticipated  prey. 

All  pickerel  inhabit  sluggish  water,  and  abound  among 
the  long,  grassy  pickerel  weed  that  thrives  upon  a  muddy 
bottom.  The  St.  Lawrence,  where  it  winds  amid  the 
beautiful  Thousand  Isles  and  forms  innumerable  deep 
and  quiet  bays,  is  their  favorite  home.  The  water,  flow- 
ing from  the  immense  lakes  and  holding  suspended  the 
seeds  of  aquatic  plants,  is  favorable  to  the  growth  of 
the  pickerel  weed,  and  is  in  every  way  suitable  to  the 
fish  themselves.  The  latter,  however,  have  great  power, 
and  can  unquestionably  stem  a  strong  current,  for  no 


PICKEREL.  171 

doubt  they  ascend  the  rapids  of  that  mighty  river,  being 
found  in  the  eddies ;  but  they  prefer  quiet  water,  where 
they  can  lurk  among  the  weeds,  watching  stealthily  for 
their  prey,  or  bask  near  the  surface  in  the  warm  summer 
sun.  Both  mascallonge  and  pickerel  abound  in  the  innu- 
merable lakes  of  Lower  Canada,  and  are  so  abundant  in 
addition  to  being  almost  tasteless,  as  to  be  unsalable  for 
food. 

In  other  waters  pickerel  are  found  in  the  summer 
months  among  the  lily-pads,  often  in  water  scarcely  deep 
enough  to  cover  their  backs.  The  federation  pike  I  have 
never  taken,  except  in  some  of  the  remote  ponds  of  the 
wild  woods  of  Cape  Cod,  near  Sandwich  and  "Wareham, 
especially  in  the  Little  Herring  Pond.  And  although  at 
the  time  I  had  no  knowledge  of  the  scientific  distinctions 
of  fish,  I  at  once  recognized  the  description  which  I  saw 
for  the  first  time  afterward,  but  had  often  sought  in  vain 
among  our  works  on  ichthyology.  All  the  pickerel 
family  are  readily  distinguishable  by  their  having  but 
one  dorsal,  and  that  opposite  the  anal  fin  and  near  the 
tail,  and  the  sportsman  acquainted  with  one  will  readily 
recognize  all  the  tribe. 

There  are  many  ways  of  capturing  this  fish,  and  he  is 
not  the  least  particular  if  he  is  offered  anything  that  has 
the  semblance  of  food.  He  may  be  trolled  for  with  dead 
bait,  generally  a  minnow,  or  better,  a  yellow  perch,  on  a 
gang  of  hooks,  or  'fished  for  with  a  live  bait  and  a  float, 
and  he  will  readily  take  a  frog,  provided  the  latter  shall 
not,  as  described  in  the  "  Angler's  Miseries,"  have  the 
intelligence  to  creep  out  upon  a  stone  and  watch  the 
fisherman,  while  the  latter  watches  his  float;  but  the 


172  PICKEREL. 

true  way  in  open  water  is  to  fish  for  him  with  a  spoon. 
The  last  is  objected  to  as  being  too  destructive;  but  as  it 
is  clean,  requires  no  bait,  and  is  little  trouble,  and  as  the 
fish  are  utterly  worthless  either  for  sport  or  the  table,  the 
sooner  they  are  destroyed  and  replaced  by  nobler  sul 
stitutes  the  better. 

Among  the  water-lilies  the  only  mode  is  to  use  a  long, 
stiff  rod  and  short  line,  loaded  with  one  buck-shot  about 
a  foot  from  the  hook,  and  baited  either  with  a  minnow, 
the  belly  of  a  yellow  perch,  or  better  than  all,  a  slip  of 
the  skin  of  pork  cut  into  something  resembling  a  small 
fish.  The  latter  never  wears  out,  and  can  hardly  be  torn 
off,  while  it  often  is  preferred  to  more  natural  food. 
The  bait  is  dropped  into  the  opening  among  the  lily-pads, 
and  sinking  rapidly,  by  the  weight  of  the  shot,  toward 
the  bottom,  is  started  up  again  by  a  twitch  of  the  rod, 
and  goes  bobbing  up  and  down  till  the  pickerel,  ren- 
dered frantic  by  such  an  absurd  performance,  can  stand 
it  no  longer,  and  with  one  furious  rush  determines  to  end 
the  gyrations  of  such  a  silly  creature.  Never  wait  for 
pickerel  to  gorge  the  bait,  discard  such  old  fogy  notions, 
and  by  the  aid  of  a  strong  rod  and  line,  pull  him  out  at 
once.  At  least  one-half  the  time  fish  eject  the  bait  instead 
of  swallowing  it,  and  no  one  who  has  ever  eaten  pork 
can  question  their  taste.  "Waiting  five  or  ten  minutes, 
or  till  they  make  two  or  three  runs,  will  not  do  in  our 
rapid  country.  I  have  seen  fish  that  were  corpulent  with 
over-feeding,  and  surrounded  by  their  favorite  food, 
young  herring,  taken  by  a  piece  of  themselves  being 
spun  in  this  manner,  when  they  would  touch  no  other 
bait. 


PICKEREL.  173 

But  the  most  wonderful  mode  of  all  is  that  practised 
in  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  generally  among  the  larger 
waters  of  Canada  and  the  northern  States.  The  fisher- 
man places  himself  in  the  stern  of  a  light  canoe-shaped 
boat,  with  his  face  forward,  the  oarsman  sits  near  the 
bows,  of  course  facing  aft ;  on  each  side  of  the  fisherman 
are  pegs  like  row-locks,  or  grooves,  in  the  gunwale,  with 
corresponding  round  holes  in  the  stretchers  on  the  oppo- 
site sides ;  two  short,  stiff  rods  are  laid  across  the  boat, 
projecting  on  each  side  like  wings,  kept  in  their  places 
by  the  pegs,  and  their  buts  supported  by  the  holes.  A 
long  line  is  let  out  from  each  rod,  say  forty  yards,  armed 
with  a  spoon  bait ;  while  the  fisherman  holds  an  ordinary 
trolling-line  in  his  hand,  and  is  thus  rowed  about  till 
either  he,  or  more  frequently  his  oarsman,  perceives  from 
the  bending  of  the  rod  that  he  has  a  bite,  or  he  feels  a 
dead  drag  on  his  hand-line.  If  it  falls  to  the  share  of 
the  rod,  he  takes  the  latter  up,  ends  it  round  till  he  can 
reach  the  line,  when  he  pulls  the  fish  in  by  hand.  If  he 
uses  a  reel,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  take  one  or  two  turns  of  the 
line  round  it,  so  that  it  will  just  render.  By  so  doing  he 
might  save  the  rod  from  breaking,  which  would  be  apt  to 
happen  with  a  heavy  fish.  Mascallonge  invariably  stop 
perfectly  still  when  struck. 

In  landing  a  fish  by  hand,  which  is  always  the  prefer- 
able mode,  the  reel  only  being  used  for  an  emergency, 
hold  the  line  very  lightly  between  your  fingers  and  give 
to  every  jerk  or  rush.  Innumerable  large  fish  are  lost 
by  an  endeavor  to  pull  them  in  by  force,  and  I  have  seen 
men,  with  their  hands  cut  by  the  line,  complaining  that 
they  had  lost  a  mascalonge  of  forty  pounds.  Pickerel 


174:  PICKEREL. 

never  make  many  nor  long-sustained  rushes,  but  they 
give  powerful  jerks  and  flounces  that,  if  resisted,  will 
tear  out  or  break  any  hook ;  otherwise,  they  can  ordina- 
rily be  drawn  through,  or  more  properly  over,  the  water 
like  a  wet  rag.  The  person  who  pulls  them  in  as  though 
it  was  a  question  of  strength  between  him  and  the  fish, 
deserves  to  lose  them  and  have  his  fingers  cut  besides. 
The  moment,  however,  the  fish  is  at  the  side  of  the  skiff, 
he  should  be  either  gaffed  or  lifted  over  the  gunwale 
at  once,  as  more  are  lost  then  than  at  any  other  time. 
Their  jaws  are  mere  skin  and  bone,  the  skin  tearing 
away  at  once,  and  the  bone  forming  no  substance  in 
which  the  hook  can  imbed  itself,  the  latter  sometimes 
slips  out  or  more  frequently  is  broken  off.  If  you  value 
your  fingers,  never  put  them  in  a  pickerel's  mouth  or 
gills,  which  are  armed  with  innumerable  sharp  and  even 
venomous  teeth.  The  best  weather  for  trolling  is  a  light, 
southwesterly  breeze,  and  in  large  and  deep  waters  a 
bright  sky ;  in  a  heavy  wind,  it  is  impossible  to  manage 
the  boat. 

The  hook  should  always  be  on  wire  or  gimp,  the 
former  preferable  as  the  latter  is  so  rarely  what  it  pro- 
fesses to  be,  and  of  course  should  be  attached  to  the  line 
by  not  less  than  two  swivels.  The  best  spoon  is  the  so- 
called  BuePs  patent,  with  three  hooks,  either  in  one 
piece,  or  soldered  firmly  together,  and  a  small  elliptical 
piece  of  tin,  copper  or  brass,  made  to  revolve  round  them 
by  means  of  a  shoulder  on  the  shank.  This  may  be  tin 
on  one  side  and  red  on  the  other,  or  copper  and  brass,  or 
copper  or  brass  alone,  to  suit  the  angler's  fancy,  and  the 
shank  of  the  hooks  is  wound  with  scarlet  flannel,  or 


PICKEREL.  175 

covered  with  the  ibis  feather,  or  left  uncovered,  as  expe- 
rience shall  dictate.  Bright  spoons  are  preferable  on 
dark  days,  and  for  mascallonge  the  oldest  and  most  suc- 
cessful fishermen  use  no  feathers  or  flannel.  Avoid 
purchasing  any  spoon  with  small,  dangling  hooks,  or  with 
more  than  three  or  less  than  two,  or  with  any  fastening 
of  any  kind  except  wire  or  gimp.  Nothing  else  will  for 
a  moment  stand  the  terrible  teeth  of  these  ferocious 
monsters.  I  once  had  an  expensive  imitation  pearl  fish, 
that  was  fastened  with  thin  brass  wire,  bitten  off  by  the 
first  pickerel  that  touched  it.  If  you  use  a  reel,  you  will 
of  course  use  your  ordinary  bass  line  ;  if  not,  purchase  a 
common  stout  hand-line,  and  troll  with  from  forty  to  fifty 
yards  out.  Your  trolling-rod  must  be  short,  stiff  and 
strong,  not  over  ten  feet  long,  and  can  be  readily  made 
by  adding  a  stout  top  to  your  but  and  second  joint; 
while,  for  weed  fishing,  you  must  have  a  long,  stiff  rod, 
and  when  the  fish  are  heavy  and  tangle  themselves  in 
the  weeds,  which  their  first  rush  will  often  do,  you  must 
reach  your  line  and  draw  them  out  by  hand ;  by  taking 
hold  of  the  wire  or  gimp,  you  can  readily  land  a  ten- 
pound  fish. 

These  fish,  both  pickerel  and  mascallonge,  can  be  cap- 
tured in  immense  numbers  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  at  Cape 
Yincent,  Clayton,  Alexandria  Bay  and  many  other 
places ;  in  Lake  Champlain,  near  House's  Point ;  and  in 
all  the  lakes  of  Canada ;  but  they  are  dull  sport  in  the 
catching  and  poor  food  in  the  eating.  Believe  no  one 
who  boasts  of  the  fine  flavor  of  the  mascallonge ;  cook 
him  as  you  will,  he  is  nothing  but  a  dirty,  flabby,  taste- 
less pickerel.  And  as  for  the  sport,  carry  a  blanket  with 


176  PICKEREL. 

you,  take  a  turn  with  the  hand-line  round  your  leg,  and 
stretching  yourselves  as  best  you  may  in  the  bottom  of 
the  boat,  sleep  comfortably  till  either  a  call  from  your 
oarsman  or  a  tug  on  your  leg  rouses  you  to  the  dreary 
work  of  pulling  in  a  worthless,  unresisting  log.  When 
you  strike  and  lose  one  fish,  remain  rowing  round  and 
round ;  if  he  is  not  much  hurt,  he  will  bite  again,  and 
where  there  is  one  there  are  more ;  remain  at  that  spot 
till,  by  passing  over  the  ground  once  or  twice  without  a 
strike,  you  are  thoroughly  satisfied  you  have  exhausted 
the  supply.  There  is  sometimes  great  beauty  of  sce- 
nery, and  if  your  guide  has  anything  to  say,  which 
he  rarely  has,  you  can,  as  you  should  be  able  ever  to  do 
in  the  open  air,  enjoy  yourself. 

The  mode  of  fishing  among  the  pond  lilies  that  I  have 
described  is  much  more  exciting,  requiring  continued 
activity,  some  skill  and  no  little  judgment,  while  there  is 
greater  risk  of  losing  your  prey.  To  avoid  the  latter 
casualty,  if  the  fish  weigh  not  over  four  pounds,  lift  him 
out  at  once,  and  proceed  in  the  same  way  with  larger 
fish  to  the  extent  your  rod  will  stand.  As  for  snap- 
fishing,  that  is,  using  a  hook  so  constructed  as  to  spring 
open  or  shut  the  moment  it  feels  the  bite,  and  thus 
grasping  the  fish  or  imbedding  an  extra  hook  in  his  jaws, 
I  have  only  tried  it  sufficiently  to  be  disgusted  with  it, 
although  probably  it  may  work  well  in  open  water.  If, 
however,  it  touches  a  weed,  it  will  be  sprung,  and  then 
you  cannot  catch  a  fish  at  all  till  it  is  reset.  It  was 
invented  to  avoid  the  hook's  coming  out  of  the  pickerel's 
mouth,  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  latter,  it  is  apt  to 
do,  a  difficulty  which  old,  slow,  poky,  English  punt- 


PICKEREL.  177 

fishers  endeavor  to  remedy  by  allowing  the  pike  or  jack, 
as  they  call  him,  to  gorge  the  bait.  A  pickerel,  like  a 
trout,  rushes  up,  strikes  his  prey,  and  immediately  returns 
with  it  to  his  haunt ;  he  then  ends  it  round,  having  gen- 
erally struck  it  crosswise,  and  swallows  it.  This  he  takes 
much  longer  to  do  than  a  trout,  and  the  English  works 
on  fishing  direct  you  to  wait  five  minutes  or  till  he  runs 
again,  and  then,  by  striking  smartly,  you  can  fix  the 
hook  into  his  gills  or  stomach,  from  which  nothing  but 
the  knife  will  remove  it.  The  disadvantage,  however,  is 
that  the 'pickerel  often  eject  instead  of  gorging  the  bait, 
ind  when  the  fisherman,  having  impatiently  awaited  his 
ive  minutes,  comes  to  strike,  he  strikes  naught  but  the 
thin  water  or  the  stem  of  a  water  lily.  After  a  few  such 
disgusting  results,  he  will  probably  determine,  as  the 
writer  has,  to  strike  at  once,  unless,  by  one  of  those 
exceptional  cases  to  all  good  rules,  some  peculiar  diffi- 
culty forces  him  to  proceed  otherwise.  The  word  spoon, 
that  has  been  so  frequently  used,  is  derived  from  the  use 
originally  of  the  bowl  of  a  pewter  table-spoon,  into  one 
end  of  which  was  fastened  three  hooks,  and  into  the  other 
a  swivel  attached  to  the  line,  and  which,  by  playing  and 
flashing  through  the  water,  attracted  the  fish ;  the  old- 
fashioned  spoon  is  now  out  of  use,  and  entirely  super- 
seded by  Buel's  patent.  Pickerel,  especially  the  smaller 
varieties,  will  take  a  fly,  but  not  very  readily ;  and'  this 
can  hardly  be  said  to  be  an  established  mode  of  fishing 
for  them. 

There  is  another  style  of  pickerel  fishing  which  is 
amusing,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  and  is  practised  exten- 
sively throughout  the  State  of  New  York.  You  take  a 

8* 


178  PICKEREL. 

small  piece  of  flat  board  about  nine  inches  across,  and 
pass  a  stick  through  a  hole  bored  in  the  centre  so  as  to 
project  above  and  below  it ;  the  lower  end  is  then  loaded, 
and  to  the  upper  is  attached  a  line  of  some  twenty  or 
thirty  feet,  that  is  baited  with  either  a  live  or  dead  min- 
now. The  line  is  coiled  on  one  side  of  the  wood,  and 
leaving  sufficient  end  for  the  bait  to  sink  to  a  proper 
depth  is  fastened  slightly  in  a  slit  cut  in  the  wood  like 
the  thread  of  a  spool.  As  many  as  you  please  to  use 
are  then  placed  in  the  pond  and  left  to  fish  while  you 
row  about  or  otherwise  employ  yourself.  If  a  pickerel 
takes  the  bait,  the  line  is  jerked  out  of  the  cleft,  and 
uncoiling,  allows  him  to  carry  off  and  pouch  the  bait, 
but  when  he  undertakes  to  move  away  he  is  hooked 
by  the  resistance  of  the  wood  against  the  water.  The 
motion  of  the  float  can  be  seen  from  some  distance,  and 
it  is  quite  interesting  to  chase  one  after  another  that  go 
"  bobbing  around,"  as  fish  after  fish  is  hooked.  A  plan 
somewhat  similar  to  this  is  described  by  Walton  and 
other  writers,  and  it  is  merely  a  modification  of  an  old 
invention. 

The  best  season  for  pickerel  fishing  is  after  the  first  of 
September,  although  they  are  taken  at  all  times,  includ- 
ing their  spawning  seasons  of  February,  March  and 
April,  and  are  quite  good,  voracious  and  abundant  in 
July  and  August.  The  English  pike  is  reported  to  show 
an  abstinence  from  food  in  Summer  that  our  fish  never 
exhibit,  and,  indeed,  differs  from  ours  in  many  particu- 
lars, and  none  more  to  his  credit  than  his  scarcity.  In 
Summer  our  fish  resort  to  the  shallow  water,  as  they  are 
also  said  to  do  in  their  spawning  season,  and  at  both 


PICKEREL.  179 

times  they  are  shot  or  speared  without  mercy.  In  fact, 
the  quick  eye,  ready  hand  and  steady  foot  required  for 
spearing  renders  it  an  exciting  and  reputable  sport, 
worthy  of,  and  often  unattainable  by,  the  best  of  us.  In 
"Winter,  pickerel  seek  the  warm,  deep  water,  and  are 
caught  through  a  hole  in  the  ice  by  a  live  bait  on  a  hand 
line.  This  is  said  to  be  very  exciting,  provided  a  rude 
hut  is  built  over  the  hole,  and  a  fire  made  in  the  hut, 
and  provided  the  fisherman,  seated  in  a  comfortable  chair, 
provided  with  a  book,  a  segar  and  a  glass  of  hot  punch, 
has  an  assistant  to  pull  out  the  fish.  It  is  alleged 
that  these  fish  are,  "  during  the  height  of  the  season," 
brilliant  and  beautiful ;  if  that  is  so  with  any,  except  the 
Long  Island  Pickerel  and  the  Federation  Pike,  the  height 
of  the  season  must  have  been  too  high  for  me  to  reach. 

The  family  of  the  Esocidce  are  truly  typified  by  the 
voracious  and  terrible  Esox  luceus,  wolf-fish,  the  true 
pike,  from  which  they  take  their  name,  and  include 
among  their  numbers  the  formidable  Gar-pike,  Esox 
osseus  of  the  Southern  waters.  Although  their  flesh  is 
hardly  fit  for  the  table,  they  are  universally  abundant, 
and  their  capture  affords  that  kind  of  pleasure  always 
derived  from  taking  many  and  large  animals  of  any 
description. 

The  principal  species  known  in  this  country  are  : 

THE  MASCALLONGE,  Esox  Estor. 

THE  NORTHERN"  PICKEREL,  Esox  Lucioides,  both  of 
which  inhabit  the  great  rivers  and  lakes  of  the  North. 

THE  COMMON  PICKEREL,  Esox  Reticulatus,  of  the  inid 
die  and  northern  States. 

THE  LONG  ISLAND  PICKEREL,  Esox  Fasciatus, 


180 


PICKEREL. 


THE  WHITE  PICKEREL,  Esox  Vittatits,  of  the  "West. 

THE  BLACK  PICKEREL,  Esox  Niger,  of  Pennsylvania 
and  of  Saratoga  Lake,  New  York,  which  Dr.  De  Kay 
presumes  to  be  only  the  young  of  the  common  pickerel. 

THE  FEDERATION  PIKE,  Esox  Tredecem  Eadiatus,  of 
the  eastern  States. 


THE    GREAT    NORTHERN    PICKEREL.  181 


CHAPTEE   XYL 

THE   GREAT   NORTHERN   PICKEREL. 

Esox  Lucioides. — This  fish  is  very  similar  to  the  mas- 
callonge, so  much  so  that  it  is  not  mentioned  in  most  of 
the  works  on  American  Ichthyology,  being  confounded 
with  the  latter.  The  principal  differences  in  appearance 
are,  that  the  snout  of  the  pickerel,  the  under  jaw  espe- 
cially, is  shorter  and  more  obtuse  than  that  of  the  mas- 
callonge,  the  light  tint  of  its  sides  is  yellower,  and  it 
never  attains  over  twenty-five  pounds.  The  markings 
on  the  sides  are  somewhat  different,  the  light,  elongated 
spots  of  the  pickerel,  being  occasionally  replaced  in  the 
mascallonge  by  dark  spots  on  a  greyish  ground,  and  the 
fin-rays  are  not  so  numerous. 

Dorsal  18 ;  Pectoral  16  ;  Yentral  10 ;  Anal  15  and 
Caudal  24 

Or,  according  to  Professor  Agassiz — 

D.  21 ;  P.  16  ;  Y.  11 ;  A.  16  ;  C.  17. 

The  principal  color  is  dark  grey,  lighter  on  the  sides 
than  on  the  back. 

These  fish  are  caught  in  all  the  sluggish  waters  of  the 
North,  and  on  the  same  ground  and  at  the  same  time  with 
the  mascallonge,  and  coincide  with  him  entirely  in  habits 
and  disposition.  They  exhibit  the  same  ferocity,  are 
allured  by  the  same  baits,  entrapped  in  the  same  manner, 
and,  in  a  culinary  point  of  view  are,  if  possible,  inferior. 


182  THE    COMMON   PICKEREL. 


CHAPTEE    XYII. 

THE   COMMON   PICKEREL. 

Esox  Reticulatm. — These  fish,  which  are  sometimes 
called  by  the  learned,  and  none  others,  Pike,  have  on 
their  sides  a  network  of  dark  lines  upon  a  yellowish 
ground,  and  are  named  by  naturalists  from  this  peculiar- 
ity. The  lines  are  sometimes  longitudinal,  and  but  little 
reticulated.  The  fin-rays  are — 

Dorsal  18  ;  Pectoral  16  ;  Yentral  10  ;  Anal  14 ;  Caudal 
19^.  Or,  according  to  Agassiz — 

D.  20  ;  P.  16  ;  V.  10  ;  A.  20  ;  C.  18. 

This  fish  rarely  exceeds  ten  pounds  in  weight,  although 
he  has  been  said  to  attain  fifteen  ;  but  in  these  instances 
has  probably  been  confounded  with  the  Northern  Pick- 
erel. He  abounds  all  through  the  northern  States,  and 
is  emphatically  the  Pickerel,  when  the  word  is  used 
without  other  qualification.  The  darker,  more  sluggish 
and  weedy  the  water,  the  more  he  likes  it ;  old  roots, 
decayed  trees  and  a  muddy  bottom  are  his  delight,  and 
by  his  ferocity  not  a  few  ponds  have  been  depopulated 
of  superior  fish.  Among  a  certain  class  of  fishermen  he 
is  a  favorite,  though  utterly  worthless  for  the  table  or  as 
sport,  and  the  little  enterprise  our  farmers  have  shown 
has  been  in  introducing  this  despicable  fish  into  good 
waters,  where,  in  consequence  of  his  rapid  increase  and 


THE    COMMON    PICKEREL.  183 

voracious  habits,  he  has  soon  exterminated  all  other  varie- 
ties. Even  excellent  trout  ponds  have  been  treated  in 
this  way. 

The  largest  of  these  fish  within  my  range  of  informa- 
tion, are  taken  in  Long  Pond,  New  Jersey,  a  large  pond, 
originally  a  natural  lake,  and  rendered  more  extensive 
by  damming.  The  head-waters  are  filled  with  dead 
trees,  amid  the  roots  of  which  pickerel  hide  and  thrive. 
There  they  are  said  to  attain  ten  pounds,  and  often  exceed 
five.  Generally,  however,  five  is  the  limit,  and  many 
more  are  taken  that  weigh  not  over  three.  These  fish 
are  not  found  in  the  waters  of  Canada,  and  are  usually 
captured  with  live  or  dead  bait,  or  a  piece  of  pork, 
although  in  favorable  water  they  would  undoubtedly 
take  the  spoon,  like  their  congeners  of  the  north.  Their 
habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  northern  pickerel  and 
mascallonge. 


184:  FEDERATION    PIKE. 


CHAPTEK    XYIII. 

FEDERATION"   PIKE. 

Esox  Tredecem  Radiatus. — This  fish,  simply  so  called 
because  it  has  no  name  among  fishermen  and  sportsmen, 
is  almost  imknown  to  naturalists.  Dr.  De  Kay  doubts 
its  existence,  and  it  is  described  alone  by  Dr.  Mitchill. 
I  take,  therefore,  much  pleasure  in  adding  my  testimony, 
so  far  as  it  goes,  to  its  existence,  although  after  all  it 
may  be  merely  a  northern  or  common  pickerel  so  altered 
by  a  change  of  food  and  water  as  not  to  be  recognizable. 
There  were  a  large  number  taken  in  the  Little  Herring 
Pond,  on  Cape  Cod  near  Agawam,  and  the  secret  of 
their  existence  being  kept  for  years,  we  had  excellent 
sport  before  the  natives  found  it  out,  and  with  their 
spears  and  guns,  fishing  through  the  ice  and  killing  them 
on  the  spawning-beds  put  a  termination  to  their  existence. 
A  few  may  remain,  and  thus  determine  the  question. 
"We  caught  large  numbers,  taking  them  of  ten  pounds' 
weight,  and  readily  killing  in  a  few  hours  a  hundred  and 
twenty-five  pounds.  The  fish  were  peculiarly  beautiful 
in  appearance,  so  much  so  that  I  made  a  rough  outline 
which  is  now  before  me,  and  marked  in  the  colors  for 
the  purpose  of  painting  the  picture  of  one.  I  afterward 
found  the  undertaking  difficult,  on  account  of  the  dissi- 
milarities of  the  common  pickerel,  which  I  purchased  in 


FEDERATION    PIKE.  185 

market  and  endeavored  to  use  as  a  guide.  The  water 
of  this  pond  was  clear  as  crystal,  and  communicated  with 
the  ocean ;  it  was  alive  with  herring,  perch  and  other 
small  fish,  as  thick  as  the  gold  leaf  in  a  bottle  of  Eau  de 
vie  de  Dantsic,  and  may  have  had  a  great  effect  upon 
the  coloring  and  shape  of  the  fish.  At  the  time  I  was 
struck  with  their  appearance,  and  examined  all  the  works 
on  icthyology  at  my  command,  but  could  find  no  satis- 
factory description. 

The  head  was  that  of  the  pickerel  family ;  of  the  teeth 
and  fin-rays  I  remember  nothing  accurately ;  the  back 
was  dark  brownish  green,  growing  greener  on  the  sides, 
where  it  was  interspersed  with  numerous  lilac  spots  or 
scales,  and  shading  off,  as  it  descended  on  the  sides,  into 
light  green  with  yellow  scales  ;  then  into  yellow  with 
brilliant  silvery  scales,  terminated  on  the  belly  in  the 
purest  white.  The  dorsal  fin  and  tail  were  dark  green, 
the  anal  burnt  sienna,  the  ventral  yellow,  with,  I  believe, 
the  first  ray  red,  and  the  pectoral  yellow  and  reddish. 
The  back  of  the  head  was  dark  green,  the  gill-covers 
were  partially  covered  with  scales,  the  iris  was  yellow 
shot  with  pearl ;  between  the  eye  and  the  nostril  there 
was  a  spot  of  lighter  green ;  the  snout  and  tip  of  the 
under  jaw  were  dark  green  ;  adjoining  on  the  under  jaw 
was  a  warm  lilac  color,  becoming  purplish  as  it  advanced 
toward  the  gill-cover.  The  lower  part  of  the  fore  gill- 
ccver  was  of  a  pearly  tint,  deepening  into  purple  as  it 
ascended ;  the  gill-rays  were  a  beautiful  warm  light 
mother  of  pearl,  and  behind  them  was  a  yellow  tint. 
These  colors  were  all  exquisitely  brilliant,  and  bid  defi- 
ance to  my  palette.  The  sides  were  variegated  with 


186  FEDERATION    PIKE. 

irregular  broken  horizontal  black  lines,  extending  nearly 
to  the  tail,  which  was  forked.  Toward  the  belly  these 
lines  disappeared ;  and  the  scales  of  the  whole  body 
were  small  and  numerous.  The  depth  was  unusually 
large  in  proportion  to  the  length,  made  greater  probably 
by  my  drawing  the  outline  round  the  fish  as  he  lay 
on  his  side.  I  took  three  outlines ;  but  the  best  speci- 
men weighed  six  pounds  and  a  half,  and  was  twenty-four 
and  a  half  inches  long  to  the  centre  of  the  tail,  and 
twenty-three  to  the  root,  by  five  and  a  half  deep,  the 
head  having  a  length  of  seven  and  a  half  inches. 

These  fish  were  not  only  remarkably  beautiful,  but 
were  excellent  on  the  table,  and  differed  utterly  in  both 
particulars  from  all  other  pickerel.  They  were  taken  in 
Summer  among  the  water  lilies,  with  the  belly  of  a  yel- 
low perch  or  a  piece  of  themselves,  and  surrounded  as 
they  were  by  the  most  delicious  food,  visible  to  our  eyes 
in  unlimited  quantities,  were  naturally  dainty. 

The  above  description  accords  wonderfully  with  that 
of  Dr.  Mitchill,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  fish 
are  identical,  although  I  did  not  count  the  fin-rays,  which 
Dr.  Mitchill  gives  at — 

Br.  13  ;  D.  13  ;  P.  13  ;  Y.  9 ;  A.  13  ;  C.  21. 


THE    ^ONG    ISLAND    PICKEREL.  187 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE   LONG   ISLAND   PICKEREL. 

Esox  Fasciatus. — This  fish  has  no  name  whatever  in 
common  parlance,  and  naturalists  have  dubbed  him  Ya- 
ried  Pickerel,  Mackerel  Pickerel,  and  other  terms  which 
are  unknown  except  to  their  authors.  He  abounds  on 
Long  Island,  although  he  is  found  elsewhere  throughout 
the  State,  and  probably  the  most  appropriate  name  would 
be  Banded  Pickerel,  as  his  scientific  appellation  justly 
suggests.  Yaried  pickerel  is  appropriate  to  nothing,  and 
mackerel  pike  to  the  scomber  esox,  another  fish  altoge- 
ther. This  fish  is  distinguishable  by  having  dark  verti- 
cal bands  upon  his  sides,  and  being  altogether  of  a  darker 
hue  on  the  back  than  any  other  pickerel,  while  the  pec- 
toral, ventral  and  anal  fins  are  lighter  colored  and  some- 
times reddish.  A  dark  band  passes  from  the  eye  to  the 
angle  of  the  jaw,  and  the  fin-rays  are — 

D.  22  ;  P.  16  ;  Y.  10  ;  A.  18  ;  C.  18.  Or,  according 
to  Dr.  De  Kay— 

D.  15  ;  P.  15  ;  Y.  9  ;  A.  14 ;  C.  19}. 

This  fish  never  exceeds  one  pound  in  weight,  and  one 
foot  in  length  ;  and  although  endowed  with  all  the  fero- 
city of  his  family,  does  not  apparently  injure  the  trout 
ponds  of  Long  Island,  where  he  has  a  local  habitation 
and  a  name.  Probably  he  cannot  destroy  the  larger  fish, 


188         THE  LONG  ISLAND  PICKEREL. 

and  the  young  fry  do  not  live  where  he  resorts.  It  is 
not  from  want  of  will  but  of  power  that  he  is  harmless, 
for  he  will  take  a  small  fly  with  the  same  ravenous  eager- 
ness that  the  mascallonge  exhibits  in  seizing  the  deadly 
spoon.  He  is  fat  and  free  from  bones,  and  not  a  bad 
pan  fish,  and  in  these  particulars,  as  well  as  in  habits 
and  appearance,  he  sets  his  big  brothers  a  good 
example. 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  189 


CHAPTEE  XX. 

THE    THOUSAND    ISLES. 

AT  the  upper  edge  of  the  State  of  ISTew  York,  where 
civilization  terminates  and  Canada  begins,  a  mighty 
river,  the  outlet  of  a  hundred  lakes  and  thousand  streams, 
flows  amid  innumerable  islands  in  a  fierce  current 
toward  the  sea.  It  bears  upon  its  broad  bosom  in  im- 
mense rafts  the  wealth  of  the  forests  of  the  Northwest. 
Enormous  quantities  of  timber,  collected  from  all  its 
tributaries,  even  from  the  region  around  Lake  Superior, 
are  brought  in  large  vessels,  mostly  three-masted  schoon- 
ers, to  the  head-waters  of  this  stream,  and  there,  at  Cape 
Yincent  or  its  neighborhood,  are  bound  together  into 
rafts,  preparatory  to  descending  the  rapids.  These  rafts 
cover  acres  in  extent,  and  sometimes  have  as  many  as 
fifty  shanties  built  upon  them  to  accommodate  one  hun- 
dred men  for  months,  or  until  they  shall  reach  Quebec  or 
Montreal.  Launched  upon  their  journey,  they  are  car- 
ried along  by  the  current,  and  by  sails  when  the  wind 
is  favorable,  and  even  without  the  latter,  moving  as  they 
do  by  the  force  of  gravity  faster  than  the  stream,  can  be 
steered  to  some  extent.  Rough  oars  are  fastened  on  the 
fore  and  after  part,  by  a  vigorous  use  of  which  the  raft 
can  be  kept  from  danger  and  retained  in  the  middle  of 
the  stream.  They  press  on  with  resistless  force,  some- 


190  THE    THOUSAND    ISLES. 

times  passing  entirely  over  projecting  rocks  or  small 
islands,  and  in  one  instance  carrying  off  a  lighthouse 
that  had  been  located  near  their  path.  One  end  often 
runs  far  on  shore,  when  the  other  swings  round  and  drags 
it  off;  vessels  of  all  kinds  keep  clear  of  them,  if  possible. 
They  are  bound  together  with  withes  made  by  twisting 
saplings,  and  so  strongly  that  they  rarely  give  way  when 
rushing  over  rocks  or  descending  rapids  that  are  almost 
cataracts.  Sometimes  they  are  composed  of  logs,  some- 
times of  rough  staves.  The  latter  are  bound  together  in 
cribs,  and  instead  of  three  drams  making  one  crib,  as  is 
common  in  New  York,  three  cribs  make  a  dram ;  and  the 
wood  measure  of  the  North  may  be  said  to  be 
1000  Staves  make  one  Crib  ; 
3  Cribs  make  one  Dram  ; 
20  Drams  make  one  Raft. 

And  no  one  has  any  scruples  whatever,  for  the  country 
being  poverty  itself,  the  people  are  neither  elevated  nor 
moral,  and  eke  out  a  scanty  subsistence  by  rafting  and 
fishing. 

The  people  use  for  fishing,  boats  on  the  plan  of  a  small 
whaleboat,  built  of  thin  cedar,  and  the  surprise  of  my 
companions  upon  their  first  visit  to  this  desolate  region, 
was  by  no  means  small  on  discovering  that  they  were 
expected  to  fish  with  three  lines  at  once,  holding  one  in 
their  hand  and  having  a  rod  projecting  from  each  side 
of  the  boat  in  addition.  "We  had  arrived  the  evening 
before  at  Clayton,  and,  like  true  knights,  finding  there 
was  to  be  a  ball  given  by  the  natives,  had  attended  it, 
and  danced  till  the  wee  hours,  with  pretty  little  bright- 
eyed  girls,  strange  dances  called  by  Indian  names,  among 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  191 

which  the  most  remarkable  was  Moneymust.  It  was  in 
the  latter  part  of  July,  and  the  day  after  the  ball  being 
bright  and  beautiful,  with  a  southwesterly  breeze,  we  each 
selected  our  boatman — for  only  one  fisherman  can  go  in 
each  boat — and  started  for  a  day's  sport  among  the  mas- 
callonge  and  pickerel.  We  separated  at  once,  some  going 
up-stream,  others  across  by  Powder-horn  and  Shot-bag 
Islands,  while  I  kept  down  along  shore  and  ran  into  the 
bay  behind  the  old  mill. 

I  had  on  the  line  of  my  right-hand  rod  a  Buel's  patent 
spoon,  tin  on  the  outside  and  red  on  the  inside,  bright- 
ened, by  being  rubbed  with  pumice  stone,  till  it  shone 
like  burnished  silver,  and,  with  red  ibis  feathers  wound 
round  the  treble  hook,  it  glanced  and  sparkled  through 
the  water,  visible  at  a  great  distance.  On  the  left-hand 
rod  the  spoon  was  .copper  on  the  inside,  and  the  hooks 
were  wound  with  scarlet  flannel,  while  that  in  my  hand- 
line  had  copper  on  the  outside,  brightly  polished,  but 
neither  feathers  nor  flannel  round  the  hooks.  We  passed 
down  from  the  outer  point  of  the  island  toward  the 
lower  part  of  the  bay  without  success,  but  when  return- 
ing inside,  my  right-hand  rod  suddenly  bent,  and  the 
line  slowly  unwound  from  the  reel,  over  which  I  had 
taken  a  couple  of  turns  to  prevent  its  rendering  too 
rapidly  ;  dropping  the  hand-line,  which  was  made  fast  to 
the  seat,  I  seized  the  rod,  and  turning  it  round  and  reach- 
ing my  line,  commenced  to  draw  it  in  as  lightly  and 
delicately,  but  steadily  as  possible,  just  holding  it 
between  the  tips  of  my  fingers.  The  fish  was  large,  and 
when  he  was  about  half-way  in,  having  come  thus  far 
with  no  other  objections  than  <i  few  violent  flounces,  he 


192  THE    THOUSAND    ISLES. 

made  a  fierce  rush  ;  instantly  the  line  slipped  with  a 
steady  but  slight  strain  through  my  finers,  and  he  dashed 
off  for  some  distance,  but  soon  tired,  he  allowed  me  to 
pull  him  up  to  the  side  of  the  boat ;  once  there,  grasping 
the  wire  above  the  hook,  I  lifted  him  quickly  over  the 
side  and  threw  him  on  the  bottom,  where  he  flounced 
about  vigorously  and  with  energy  enough,  if  exhibited 
sooner,  to  have  broken  almost  any  line.  Taking  the 
hook  carefully  by  the  shank,  I  twisted  it  out  of  his 
mouth,  and  weighing  him  with  the  scales  that  were 
always  in  my  pocket,  found  he  weighed  ten  pounds. 

Turning  at  the  head  of  the  little  cove,  we  retraced 
our  path  and  struck  another  fish,  and  so  over  and  over 
again,  some  of  them  making  violent  but  unavailing  efforts 
to  escape,  others  slapping  off  just  as  they  were  being 
lifted  into  the  boat,  others  again  coming  in  with  their 
heads  out  of  water  like  a  yawl  towed  behind  a  steamboat. 
Sometimes  it  was  the  right-hand  rod  that  bent,  some- 
times the  left,  then  the  hand-line  felt  the  strain — often 
two  and  sometimes  all  three  at  once ;  it  kept  me  busy, 
to  say  the  least  of  it.  The  reels  were  of  little  use,  as  the 
boatman  had  to  keep  rowing  to  prevent  the  lines  sinking 
to  the  bottom  and  catching  in  the  weeds,  which,  in  spite 
of  all  precautions  they  sometimes  succeeded  in  doing, 
and  the  strain  was  consequently  too  great  for  them. 
The  bottom  of  the  boat  was  filled  with  the  long-bodied, 
wolfish  and  ravenous  devils,  that  snapped  their  jaws, 
struggled  about,  their  eyes  gleaming  with  impotent  fury 
and  merciless  cruelty,  as  ugly  looking  a  set  as  the  sun 
ever  shone  upon  ;  but  as  they  were  brought  in,  one  after 
another,  my  oarsman  was  delighted. 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  193 

"We  remained  on  the  same  spot,  rowing  round  until 
satisfied  we  should  get  no  more,  when  we  headed  over 
toward  the  Canadian  shore,  into  the  far-famed  region  of 
Eel  Bay.  The  latter  takes  its  name  from  a  fly  that  is 
found  in  the  fore  part  of  July  in  immense  numbers  on 
the  waters  of  this  region.  It  appears  to  one  who  has 
small  claims  as  an  entomologist  to  be  the  May-fly  or 
famous  Green  and  Grey  Drake  of  England.  Some  that 
I  pressed  and  brought  to  the  city  were  recognized  at 
once  by  the  English  fly-makers,  who  were  delighted  to 
see  an  old  friend,  and  made  a  number  of  them  for  me 
after  the  pattern,  saying  that  there  was  but  a  shade  of 
color  between  them  and  what  they  had  so  often  pre- 
pared as  the  May-fly  at  home.  These  flies  appear  in 
myriads ;  when  the  wind  is  northerly,  the  waves  will 
cover  the  dock  at  Cape  Yincent  with  them  several  inches 
thick.  Their  body  is  long  and  so  heavy  that  in  the  early 
morning,  when  their  wings  are  damp  with  the  dew,  they 
cannot  rise  to  fly  and  are  readily  picked  up  by  their 
wings,  which  project  invitingly  above  their  backs.  Eel 
Bay  is  named  from  the  immense  quantities  of  these  flies 
that  appear  there  ;  they  constitute  the  principal  food  of 
the  fish  from  which  they  derive  their  name,  as  well  as 
of  the  cisco,  black  and  rock  bass,  chubs,  and  probably 
many  others.  They  rise  with  difficulty  from  the  water, 
and  fly  heavily  and  slowly. 

Our  course  carried  us  across  the  rapid  current  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  where  my  boatman  was  glad  to  have  me 
haul  in  my  lines,  that  dragged  heavily,  as  there  was  no 
chance  of  taking  fish.  We  were  soon  in  the  bay,  an 
extensive  reach  formed  by  a  bend  in  the  St.  Lawrence, 


194:  THE    THOUSAND    ISLSES. 

lying  upon  one  side,  out  of  the  force  of  the  current,  and 
filled  with  innumerable  islands.  It  probably  holds  within 
itself  a  thousand  isles.  They  are  of  all  kinds,  shape, 
form  and  appearance,  some  half  a  mile  in  extent,  consti- 
tuting a  cultivated  farm,  others  a  bare  rock  scarcely  pro- 
jecting above  the  surface,  some  covered  with  a  dense 
foliage,  others  furnishing  a  single  tree,  and  many  bare 
of  tree,  bush  or  grass.  There  is  immense  variety  of 
appearance,  but  all  are  inconceivably  picturesque.  None 
are  very  high,  but  at  times  the  rocks  run  straight  up 
like  a  wall  of  stone,  while  others  are  long,  low  and  flat. 
They  are  clustered  together,  often  affording  barely 
room  for  the  boat  to  pass,  and  offer  to  the  eye  every 
variety  of  shape  and  foliage.  Amid  them  we  now  wan- 
dered, admiring  their  bewitching  beauty  as  they  lay 
basking  in  the  broad  sunlight  upon  the  calm  bosom  of 
the  river.  Seldom  are  they  inhabited,  and  most  of  the 
primeval  forest  trees  having  been  cut,  they  have  grown 
up  with  a  dense  underwood,  occasionally  relieved  by 
some  tall  monarch  of  the  forest  that  has  survived  the 
fury  of  man. 

Keeping  close  along  under  the  overhanging  tree  or 
rock,  or  passing  into  the  open  water  with  ever-changing 
scenery,  we  drew  from  the  "vasty  deep,"  where  the 
long  pickerel  weed  could  be  seen  reaching  up  toward 
the  surface,  one  after  another  of  those  savage  monsters, 
the  Great  Northern  Pickerel.  "Without  catching  any- 
thing of  wonderful  size,  we  had  taken  an  unusual  num- 
ber, when  the  calls  of  hunger  warned  us  that  the  hours 
were  fleeting  faster  than  we  thought. 

Landing  at  the  point  of  an  island  where  there  was  a 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  195 

beautiful  natural  grove,  we  set  to  work  to  build  a  lire  and 
prepare  our  fish  for  dinner.  The  pleasantest  arrange- 
ment connected  with  this  fishing  is  that  each  boat  is 
provided  with  a  basket  of  good  cold  fare,  a  frying-pan 
and  the  necessary  means  of  cooking ;  and  in  the  middle 
of  the  day  it  is  customary  for  several  to  meet  at  an 
appointed  island,  and  for  the  fishermen  to  have  a  jolly 
dinner.  Although  -we  were  first  to  arrive,  our  com- 
panions were  not  long  behind  us,  and  the  best  fish, 
especially  the  black  bass,  were  selected,  cleaned,  split 
open,  and  fried  in  the  grease  tried  out  of  a  few  pieces  of 
salt  pork.  Our  provisions  were  combined  and  made 
quite  a  handsome  picnic  set-out,  rendered  more  accept- 
able to  our  sharpened  appetite  by  a  few  glasses  of  iced 
champagne.  Of  course  we  had  our  stories  to  tell :  how 
skillfully  we  had  landed  this  fish,  or  how  unfortunately 
we  had  lost  that;  and  one  man,  who  had  struck  and 
almost  landed  a  mascallonge,  was  agitated  with  mingled 
happiness  and  despondency.  The.  days  were  long,  our 
boatmen  had  had  a  hard  tug  of  it,  the  shade  was  grateful, 
the  champagne  refreshing,  our  cigars  excellent,  and  con- 
sequently no  one  was  hurried.  The  wind,  however,  kept 
increasing,  and  after  a  couple  of  hours,  pleasantly  passed, 
we  once  more  embarked  and  bid  each  other  farewell  till 
night. 

My  boatman  struck  well  in  toward  the  Canadian  shore ; 
but  although  we  crossed  places  where  he  had  had  won- 
derful success  on  many  a  previous  occasion,  and  of  which 
there  were  extraordinary  stories  of  mascallonge,  our 
luck  had  deserted  us.  However,  perseverance  was  re- 
warded ;  suddenly  my  hand-line  was  taughtened  as 


196  THE    THOUSAND    ISLES. 

though  it  had  struck  a  log ;  for  a  moment  it  was  still, 
then  I  felt  the  motion  of  the  fish.  The  boatman  instantly 
dropped  his  oars  and  reeled  in  as  quickly  as  possible  the 
other  lines — just  in  time ;  for  the  fish,  feeling  he  was 
caught,  made  one  rush  directly  toward  us.  I  drew  in  the 
line  hand  over  hand,  to  have  something  to  give  out  when 
he  should  make  away  again,  but  not  nearly  so  fast  as  he 
moved.  He  passed  close  to  us ;  we  could  see  the  broad 
back,  the  long  nose,  the  fierce  eye,  the  mighty  length  of 
the  mascallonge. 

"  Turn  the  boat  broadside  toward  him,"  I  whispered  as 
he  passed. 

Away  he  went,  the  slack  of  the  line  hissed  through  the 
water  as  his  increasing  distance  took  it  up,  and  partially 
deadened  his  way  as  he  reached  the  end  of  it  and  came 
against  the  light  though  steady  strain  with  which  I  held 
it.  Giving  to  him,  at -first  readily  then  more  sparingly, 
I  again  turned  him ;  this  time  he  did  not  approach  so 
near,  but  swung  round  well  in-shore.  Then,  with  a  sud- 
den rush,  he  came  straight  on,  and  flashed  directly 
beneath  the  bottom  of  the  boat.  If  the  line  once  touched 
the  rough  surface,  or  caught  in  a  splinter  of  the  wood, 
we  knew  it  would  part  like  pack-thread.  The  oarsman 
tried  to  swing  her  round ;  there  was  no  time ;  hastily 
gathering  a  few  coils,  I  threw  them  into  the  water  at  the 
stern,  and  passing  the  line  over  my  head,  anxiously 
watched  them  sink.  Suddenly  they  were  taken  up,  the 
line  in  my  hand  taughtened  and  lifted  out  of  water ;  it 
had  not  caught,  and  that  danger  was  past.  The  strug- 
gle lasted  long  ;  again  and  again  he  darted  away  ;  once 
he  nearly  exhausted  my  line,  and  compelled  me  to  use 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  197 

considerable  force,  but  generally  I  held  the  least  possi- 
ble strain  on  him.  Finally,  he  made  one  grand  rush,  was 
foiled,  allowed  himself  to  be  drawn  alongside,  and  was 
neatly  gaffed  by  the  boatman. 

He  was  an  immense  fish,  a  triton  even  among  pickerel 
of  ten  pounds.  Beauty  he  certainly  did  not  possess,  but 
grandeur  and  ferocity  marked  every  lineament.  His 
huge  head,  immense  jaws,  and  terrible  teeth,  his  long, 
narrow  body,  large  fins,  and  broad  tail,  and  above  all,  his 
fierce,  gleaming,  savage  eye,  marked  him  as  the  undis- 
puted master  of  the  fresh  waters.  His  enormous  size  and 
prodigious  strength,  the  latter  exemplified  by  his  nearly 
springing  over  the  gunwale,  indicated  that  he  had  no 
match  even  in  our  extensive  lakes,  while  his  merciless 
ferocity,  that  would  spare  neither  large  nor  small,  friend 
nor  foe,  was  but  too  apparent.  His  weight,  as  afterward 
ascertained,  was  thirty-five  pounds,  and  his  length  was 
excessive  proportionally  to  other  fish.  Although  he 
fought  well,  he  had  not  exhibited  in  the  water  the  vigor 
he  did  out  of  it.  Now  that  his  fate  was  sealed,  he  lashed 
about,  struggled  and  flounced  as  though  his  capture  had 
just  commenced,  and  scarcely  showed  an  intimation  of 
approaching  death  or  surrender.  It  appears  to  be  a 
peculiarity  of  the  pickerel  family  that  they  exhibit  their 
courage  and  strength  too  late,  waiting  till  they  are  man- 
acled before  they  fairly  rouse  themselves  to  the  emer- 
gency. Their  efforts  consequently  afford  little  pleasure 
to  the  sportsman  or  profit  to  themselves. 

Having  captured  the  master  spirit  of  the  stream,  we 
did  not  wish  any  of  his  smaller  brethren,  and  while  he 
was  dying  we  wound  up  the  hand- line  and  removed  the 


193  THE    THOUSAND    ISLES. 

spin  n ing  tackle  from  the  others.  I  then  took  out  a 
twelve-foot  salmon  leader,  or  casting-line,  as  our  friends 
across  the  water  express  it,  and  fastened  on  it,  at  equal 
distances,  five  large  flies,  the  upper  dropper  and  tail-flies 
being  dressed  with  white  and  ibis  feathers  mixed  on  a 
large  sized  salmon  hook,  while  the  intermediate  ones  were 
small,  dark  colored  salmon  flies.  This  leader,  thus 
equipped,  being  fastened  to  one  line,  and  a  similar  one, 
except  that  a  small,  gay  spoon  replaced  the  tail-fly,  to 
the  other,  they  were  trolled  thirty  or  forty  yards  astern, 
so  that  they  sank  well  as  we  moved  slowly  along.  Then, 
leaving  the  quiet  bays,  with  their  sluggish  current  and 
weedy  bottom,  we  struck  out  boldly  into  the  rapid  wrater 
and  sought  the  rocky  shoals  where  black  bass  love  to 
hide  and  wait. 

The  wind  had  increased  till  there  was  quite  a  sea,  and 
it  was  difficult  to  manage  the  boat ;  but  that  was  soon 
forgotten  in  the  excitement.  The  fish  were  numerous  and 
in  excellent  disposition ;  every  shoal  we  crossed  furnished 
us  with  several ;  we  often  took  two  or  three  at  a  time, 
and  occasionally  had  both  lines  engaged  at  once.  They 
were  brave,  vigorous  and  determined  ;  madly  they  darted 
forward  on  feeling  the  hook,  and  threw  themselves  high 
out  of  water  to  shake  it  from  their  mouths ;  finding  that 
vain,  they  made  rush  after  rush  to  escape,  again  and 
again  they  leaped  in  the  air,  resolute  and  courageous  to 
the  last ;  not  till  they  were  in  the  net  would  they  sur- 
render. 

Strange  it  was  to  note  the  different  shades  of  their 
colors.  Their  deep  sides,  for  they  are  an  awkward-looking 
fish,  and  their  shape  gives  little  indication  of  their 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  199 

strength,  were,  in  some,  of  that  dark  green,  almost  black, 
from  which  their  name  is  derived;  in  others  it  was  a 
light  green,  and  again  in  others  pale  yellow.  Whence 
these  variations  are  derived,  unless  it  be  from  the  shade 
of  the  ground  they  live  on,  to  which  all  fish  are  said  to 
assimilate,  is  not  known ;  but  it  has  often  led  to  their 
being  divided  into  distinct  classes,  or  mistaken  for  other 
species.  Their  peculiarity  of  springing  out  of  water  is 
remarkable.  Salmon  and  blue-fish  do  so  frequently, 
trout  rarely,  and  other  fish  seldom  or  never ;  but  a  black 
bass  of  any  size  will  invariably  make  one  or  more  des- 
perate leaps.  It  is  a  glorious  sight  to  see  his  full  length 
above  the  water,  and  a  nervous  moment  till  the  line  that 
has  been  slacked  is  again  taughtened  by  his  strain.  Such 
leaps  are  his  most  effective  means  of  escape,  by  enabling 
him  to  shake  the  hook  from  his  mouth  or  strike  the  line 
with  his  tail ;  and  though  not  so  persevering  as  the  trout, 
generally,  at  the  sight  of  the  net,  he  makes  a  final,  dan- 
gerous rush. 

We  coasted  along  by  island  after  island,  crossing  near 
one  named  after  "  Old  Bill  Johnston,"  memorable  for 
having  taken  an  active  part  in  the  Canadian  rebellion, 
and  long  forced  to  hide  from  his  English  pursuers. 
Johnston's  Island,  as  it  is  called,  was  his  favorite  resort, 
where  he  was  succored  and  warned  of  danger  by  his 
beautiful  daughter,  universally  known  as  the  Queen  of 
the  Isles.  What  a  theme  for  the  poet  or  the  novelist : 
the  father  safe  neither  on  the  English  shore,  where  he 
had  waged  unjustifiable  war,  nor  among  the  Americans, 
who  would  have  been  compelled  to  surrender  him,  lurk- 
ing among  those  beautiful  isles,  then  wilder  and  more 


200  THE    THOUSAXD    ISLES. 

densely  wooded  than  now,  trusting  for  his  support  to  his 
rod  and  line — for  he  rarely  dared  to  use  his  rifle — and  to 
the  scanty  supplies  brought  by  his  daughter ;  the  latter 
residing  on  shore  watching  for  any  expedition  that 
might  be  fitted  out  against  him,  and  at  the  first  intima- 
tion darting  off  in  her  light  canoe  in  spite  of  rain  or 
storm,  in  the  daylight  or  impenetrable  darkness,  and 
arriving  at  her  retreat,  perhaps  just  in  time  to  warn  him 
of  his  danger  and  enable  him  to  escape.  Imagine  the 
woman's  ready  wit,  ever  at  work,  ever  on  the  watch  for 
him;  imagine  the  father's  joy  on  seeing  her  amid  his 
trying  and  wearisome  solitude,  and  her  anxiety  till  he 
is  once  more  out  of  danger.  The  thought  that  such 
things  had  really  happened  so  near  to  where  we  then 
were,  added  to  our  excitement,'  and  was  only  dissipated 
on  passing  Whisky  Island,  which  is  in  dangerous  prox- 
imity to  the  former. 

Our  boat  was  headed  down-stream  and  driven  before 
the  strong  wind ;  we  moved  rapidly  with  varying  suc- 
cess till  we  arrived  at  one  little  shoal,  the  name  of  which 
I  have  forgotten,  or  it  never  existed,  and  where  we  found 
fish  innumerable.  Frequently  every  hook  on  both 
lines  was  engaged  ;  often  I  landed  three,  sometimes  four, 
and  once  or  twice  five  fish  at  a  time.  The  sport  was 
wonderfully  exciting ;  first  one  rod  bent,  then  the  other ; 
and  then,  while  I  was  busy  foiling  the  struggles  of  fish 
so  numerous  that  they  made  the  water  foam,  I  would  see 
with  a  feeling  of  despair  the  other  rod  bend  and  the  line 
slowly  render  round  the  reel.  It  was  impossible  to  move 
faster,  useless  to  hurry ;  but,  as  quickly  as  I  could  and 
dared,  the  fish  were  brought  to  net.  This  shoal  was 


THE    THOUSAND    ISLES.  201 

exposed  to  the  full  fury  of  the  wind,  and  the  water 
dashed  in  over  the  bow  or  broke  against  the  side,  while 
the  oarsman  had  all  he  could  manage  to  row  against  the 
blast. 

Round  and  round  this  spot  we  moved,  ever  with  the 
same  result;  the  lines  were  not  half  out  before  they 
would  be  seized,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  keep  the  two 
rods  in  play.  This  lasted  till  we  were  both  utterly  worn 
out  with  the  excitement  and  the  exertion,  and  were  com- 
pelled to  give  up  from  sheer  exhaustion.  My  fingers  had 
many  a  bloody  mark  left  by  the  reel-handle,  that  a  sudden 
rush  had  jerked  from  rny  grasp,  and  being  compelled  in 
the  uncomfortable  seat  to  turn  my  body  round  to  reel  up, 
my  back  was  almost  broken.  The  man  had  rowed  as 
long  as  he  could,  but  was  forced  to  run  down  between 
the  Powder-horn  and  Shot-bag  Islands  and  rest  awhile 
before  breasting  the  storm  homeward. 

"We  had  had  great  luck,  taking  in  the  last  hour  and  a 
half  seventy-three  bass.  It  was  a  glorious  sight  when 
we  arrived  at  home  to  see  our  fish  laid  out  side  by  side, 
the  mascallonge  at  their  head,  and  tapering  regularly 
down  to  a  half-pound  black  bass.  The  latter  do  not 
average  any  great  size,  rarely  exceeding  three  pounds 
and  never  known  to  be  taken  over  six ;  but  a  day  upon 
the  St.  Lawrence  among  those  beautiful  Thousand 
Isles,  either  in  pursuit  of  the  mighty  mascallonge, 
the  furious  pickerel,  or,  best  of  all,  the  spirited  black 
bass,  will  never  be  regretted  by  the  poet  or  the  sports- 
man. 


202  STRIPED    BASS. 


CHAPTEK    XXI. 

STRIPED   BASS. 

Labrax  Lineatus — Rock-fish  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
South — Perca  Labrax  (Smith) — Sciena  Lineata  (Black.) 

This  fish,  which  has  a  large  number  of  scientific  names 
and  several  popular  ones,  belongs  to  the  Perch  family, 
has  two  spines  on  the  after  part  of  the  gill-cover,  and  the 
margin  of  the  fore  gill-cover  rough  like  the  edge  of  a 
saw.  Its  color  is  bluish  on  the  back,  light  on  the  sides, 
and  white  on  the  belly.  The  sides  are  marked  by  seven 
to  nine  longitudinal  dark  lines,  from  which  its  name  is 
derived,  the  upper  of  which  reach  the  tail,  but  the  lower 
fade  out  above  the  anal  fin.  These  lines  sometimes  are 
broken  or  consist  of  contiguous  dots.  The  ventral  fins 
are  below  and  somewhat  behind  the  pectorals,  and  have 
the  first  rays  spinous.  The  fore  part  of  the  dorsal  has 
nine  spiny  rays,  and  at  the  interval  between  that  and  the 
after  part  there  is  another  small  hard  ray,  while  the  after 
part  is  composed  of  twelve  soft  rays.  The  pectorals 
have  sixteen  soft  rays,  the  ventrals  one  hard  and  five 
soft,  the  anal  three  hard  and  eleven  soft,  and  the  tail 
seventeen  soft  rays. 

Whether  the  name  Bass  means  Perch  or  not,  I  cannot 
say,  although  there  is  no  such  tradition  among  my 
Dutch  ancestry,  and  I  am  unable  to  find  the  word  in 


STRIPED    BASS.  203 

their  Dutch  dictionaries.  There  could,  however,  be  no 
more  creditable  derivation,  and  as  many  authorities 
assert  the  fact,  it  is  as  well  to  let  it  pass.  The  fish  are 
found  along  the  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida,  although 
they  appear  never  to  have  visited  Europe,  and  are  the 
gamest  salt  water  fish  of  our  continent.  In  their  season, 
which  is  at  intervals  from  early  Spring  to  late  in  Fall, 
they  are  taken  on  the  bars  and  in  every  creek  of  our  ex- 
tensive coast.  The  net  destroys  the  greater  number,  but 
they  bite  freely  and  fight  bravely  for  their  lives.  Great 
skill  and  experience  are  requisite  for  their  successful 
capture  when  they  are  shy  and  scarce,  but  when  abun- 
dant or  hungry,  although  always  a  dainty  fish,  they  bite 
rapidly  and  boldly.  Like  the  squid  of  the  deep  seas, 
these  may  be  said  to  be  thetlargest  and  smallest  of  fish ; 
they  are  taken  from  an  ounce  to  a  hundred  pounds' 
weight. 

The  Striped  Bass  becomes  an  object  of  the  angler's 
attention  in  April,  when  he  runs  up  the  rivers  to  spawn. 
He  ascends  into  cool  fresh  water,  until  arrested  by  a 
natural,  or,  too  frequently,  an  artificial  barrier.  He  is 
taken  under  the  Cohoes  Falls  in  the  Mohawk,  and  at  Al- 
Jbany  and  Troy  in  the  Hudson,  and  reaches  the  very 
head-waters  of  the  Delaware,  where  he  is  known  as  Rock- 
fish.  Many,  and  those  the  largest,  do  not  appear  to 
leave  the  salt  water,  and  are  found  in  the  small  bays  and 
inlets.  In  the  fall,  when  the  cold  weather  sets  in,  they 
retire  to  the  salt  water  coves  and  lagoons,  where  they  lie 
imbedded  in  the  mud  or  hiding  near  the  bottom,  secure 
against  danger,  or  discomfort  from  cold  or  storms.  Ad- 
vantage is  taken  of  this  peculiarity  by  the  market  fish- 


204:  STRIPED  BASS. 

ermen,  and  there  is  a  pond  on  Long  Island,  near  Sag 
Harbor,  and  others  near  Point  Judith,  that  are  a  source 
of  great  profit  to  their  owners.  The  mill-pond  at  Stam- 
ford having  carried  away  the  gates  one  Winter,  and  run 
out  nearly  dry,  striped  bass  of  immense  size  were  picked 
up  by  cart-loads  from  the  muddy  bottom. 

These  fish  can  be  confined  to  fresh  water  without 
being  permitted  to  visit  the  sea,  and  they  will  not  only 
live  and  breed,  but  are  said  to  be  much  improved  by 
the  change.  In  September  they  appear  on  the  coast  in 
shoals,  and  are  taken  both  inside  and  outside  of  the  bars, 
and  in  the  bays  and  inlets  where  they  resort  for  food. 
As  they  are  much  sought  after  and  highly  appreciated, 
and  as  I  have  added  largely  to  my  own  knowledge  by 
drawing  extensively  upon  $he  experience  of  my  friends, 
the  following  description  of  the  numerous  modes  of  tak- 
ing them  will  be  found  rather  minute. 

When  they  first  appear  in  April  the  shad  are  running, 
and  hence,  in  the  rivers  that  the  latter  frequent,  shad  roe 
is  the  best  though  most  troublesome  of  all  baits.  In 
places  where  shad  are  not  to  be  found,  the  bass  are  sus- 
picious of  such  bait.  As  it  is  most  difficult  to  fasten  on 
the  hook,  it  must  be  cut  with  the  skin  that  envelops  it, 
and  tied  on  with  tow,  flax,  or  floss  silk.  Stonehenge, 
after  eloquently  defending  the  use  of  the  salmon  roe  as 
a  bait,  which  is  ordinarily  considered  a  kind  of  poaching, 
gives  for  its  preparation  the  following  directions,  that 
apply  equally  well  to  the  shad  roe  :  Boil  the  roe  without 
its  envelope  for  twenty  minutes  ;  bruise  it  in  a  mortar  to 
a  uniform  consistency ;  add  to  each  pound  an  ounce  of 
common  salt  and  a  quarter  of  an  ounce  of  saltpeter ; 


STRIPED    BASS.  205 

beat  them  together  and  store  it  an  earthen  jar  covered 
with  a  bladder.  Frank  Forrester  recommends  that  the 
roe  be  well  washed  and  thoroughly  dried  in  the  air, 
salted  with  two  ounces  of  rock  salt  and  a  quarter  of  an 
ounce  of  saltpeter  to  a  pound  of  spawn,  dried  gently  and 
potted  down,  covered  with  melted  lard  or  suet  in  earthen 
jars.  This,  either  fresh  or  potted,  is  a  most  effective 
bait  for  striped  bass,  but  I  confess  for  trout  my  experi- 
ence is  to  the  contrary. 

In  streams  that  the  shad  do  not  frequent,  striped 
bass  are  taken  early  in  the  season  with  shrimp  threaded 
on  longitudinally,  by  passing  the  point  of  the  hook 
under  the  back  plates ;  as  the  season  advances,  and 
crabs  shed  their  coats,  with  the  shedder,  or  better, 
soft  crabs ;  and  in  the  Fall  with  shrimp,  the  bass,  or 
barred  killey,  and  the  spearing.  In  fishing  with  shrimp 
— and  it  is  a  good  bait  all  the  season  through,  and  must  be 
tried  when  others  fail — use  a  float  fastened  about  three 
feet  above  a  swivel  sinker,  to  the  lower  swivel  of  which 
are  to  be  attached  two  distinct  gut  leaders,  one  of  three 
feet,  the  other  of  two.  Single  gut,  if  large,  round,  and 
true,  is  decidedly  preferable  to  double,  and  the  hook 
should  never  be  a  coarse,  clumsy  Limerick,  which  has 
such  an  undeserved  reputation,  but  a  delicate  Carlisle, 
with  a  broad,  round  bend.  If  very  large  fish  are  ex- 
pected— and  they  rarely  are — use  No.  0  ;  but  gener- 
ally No.  3  is  large  enough.  With  crab  the  hook  must 
be  larger.  I  prefer  always  to  have  the  point  of  the  hook 
covered,  and  recommend  that  the  shrimp  should  be 
bunched  on  till  they  hide  the  hook  entirely,  and  form  a 
round,  attractive  bait,  composed  of  so  many  shrimp  as 
no  bass  ever  before  saw  together. 


206  STRIPED    BASS. 

In  June,  and  throughout  the  Summer,  the  crab  is  a 
better  bait  ordinarily  than  the  shrimp.  I  prefer  the  soft 
crab,  because  it  does  not  dull  the  point  of  the  hook,  as 
will  sometimes  happen  with  a  shedder  that  is  not  quite 
ripe ;  it  is  easily  cut  up  into  proper  baits,  whereas  the 
shedder  has  to  be  skinned,  or,  more  properly,  shelled — 
a  long  and  nasty  operation ;  it  is  always  in  good  order 
whereas  others,  unless  carefully  selected,  and  kept  just  the 
right  time,  will  tear  to  pieces  in  the  course  of  preparation  ; 
and  finally,  the  skin  of  the  soft  crab,  especially  as  it 
verges  'toward  the  buckram,  enables  the  hook  to  retain 
its  hold.  Judging  from  human  nature,  I  fancy  the  fish 
must  prefer  a  nice,  soft,  plump  bait,  to  one  that  is  jagged 
and  half  full  of  pieces  of  shell. 

Most  writers  say,  fish  with  crab  on  the  bottom,  be- 
cause there  it  is  naturally  found  ;  I  say,  fish  with  it  near 
the  top,  because  no  sensible  fish  can  imagine  that  a  quar- 
ter of  a  crab  long  since  dead  and  dismembered  has  any 
control  over  its  own  motions.  In  fact  there  is  no  unbend- 
ing rule  for  fishing ;  the  only  way  is  to  try  all  plans, 
and  if  the  fish  will  not  notice  your  crab  suspended  in 
mid-water,  take  off"  your  float  and  swivel  sinker,  put  on 
a  running  sinker,  as  it  is  called,  made  like  a  piece  of 
lead  pipe  with  a  small  hole  in  the  centre,  tie  a  knot  in 
the  line  to  prevent  its  going  down  on  the  hook ;  use  a 
single  bait  of  a  good-sized  piece  of  crab,  and  cast  well 
out  from  you,  and  the  first  eel  that  comes  along  will 
astonish,  not  to  say  disgust  you.  The  line  being  free, 
though  the  lead  lies  on  the  bottom,  you  can  feel  the 
first  touch  of  a  fish,  and  strike  at  once ;  whereas  if  the 
sinker  were  the  old-fashioned  deep  sea  lead  he  would 
have  to  drag  its  weight  some  distance  before  the  fisher- 


STRIPED    BASS.  207 

man  would  be  aware  of  bis  proceedings.  A  man,  by 
fishing  on  the  bottom,  although  justified  by  a  philosophy 
which  establishes  the  fact  that  bass  ought  to  look  for 
crabs  there,  and  not  dangling  about  in  mid- water,  will 
surely  catch  three  eels  to  one  bass.  The  truth  is,  crabs 
are  not  found  on  the  bottom  in  such  places,  generally 
strong  foaming  currents,  which  they  never  frequent  un- 
less carried  away  by  the  force  of  the  water,  and  soft 
crabs  are  by  their  natural  enemies,  and  many  other 
causes,  often  torn  into  pieces  and  borne  about  by  the 
tide. 

The  bait  should  be  kept  in  continual  motion :  this  is 
the  first  law  of  all  bait  fishing.  It  is  done  by  twitching 
the  rod,  and  induces  the  fish  to  seize  the  prey,  which  they 
imagine  is  about  to  escape.  I  have  seen  them  time  and 
again  dart  at  a  bait  when  in  motion,  that  they  had 
smelt  round  contemptuously  when  still.  Crab  is  uni- 
versally regarded  as  the  preeminent  bass  bait  in  Summer, 
although  its  reputation  is  disputed  by  that  wonderful 
production  of  the  sea,  the  squid.  This  horrible  monster,  of 
which  sailors  tell  such  astounding  stories,  has  illuminated 
the  tales  of  olden  time,  and  been  a  pet  forecastle  yarn 
with  ancient  and  modern  mariners.  There  are  accounts 
of  ships  seized  by  its  arms,  that  reached  to  the  mast- 
heads, and  sunk  or  only  saved  by  prayers  to  the  Yirgin 
Mary  and  the  vigorous  use  of  axes  on  its  many  muscular 
and  boneless  limbs  ;  of  grateful  mariners  presenting  pic- 
tures of  the  dreadful  encounter  to  the  shrine  of  Our 
Lady  ;  of  huge  pieces  of  the  arms  of  this  fish,  indicating 
that  they  must  have  been  sixty  or  more  feet  long,  found 
in  the  maw  of  the  whale,  whose  food  they  are  ;  and  hor- 


208  STRIPED    BASS. 

rible  stories  whispered  with  bated  breath,  of  men  in 
bathing  drawn  down  by  even  the  smaller  of  the  monsters. 
Though  there  must  be  something  in  it,  I  doubt  if  this  is  all 
true,  notwithstanding  the  squid  is  ugly  enough  for  any- 
thing. With  us  the  squid  or  cuttle-fish  is  harmless  except 
to  the  sight,  and  in  his  native  element  is  glad  to  hide  him- 
self in  the  obscurity  of  a  dark  liquid  that  he  has  the  power 
of  emitting,  when  pursued.  The  only  bone  in  his  body  is 
in  the  middle  of  his  stomach,  and  what  it  is  put  there 
for  unless  to  give  him  an  accurate  idea  of  indigestion,  no 
one  knows.  For  the  present  it  is  enough  to  say  he  is 
good  bait,  although  not  handsome,  and  may  be  used 
either  in  trolling  or  still  fishing. 

Another  excellent  bait  early  in  the  Fall,  although  no- 
where mentioned  in  the  books,  and,  I  believe,  my  own 
discovery,  is  the  scollop.  My  attention  was  first  called  to 
it  by  some  men  opening  them  for  the  table  and  throwing 
the  many-eyed  skins  into  the  water.  The  bass  collected 
at  once  and  rushed  eagerly  to  the  very  dock,  almost 
springing  out  of  water  to  seize  the  coveted  morsel. 
Upon  this  hint  I  acted,  and  by  great  care,  for  the  scol- 
lop is  extremely  tender,  and  by  passing  the  hook  several 
times  through  the  skin,  I  succeeded  in  keeping  the  bait 
on  while  I  cast  very  gently.  My  success  was  astonish- 
ing, and  then  and  afterward  I  took  the  largest  fish 
under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances  with  it,  when 
they  would  not  touch  the  most  tempting  crab.  The 
heart  of  the  scollop  is  pearly  white,  and  is  attractive  and 
so  good  that  no  wonder  the  bass  should  be  crazy  for  it. 
It  is  difficult  to  manage  and  easily  washed  off  the  hook, 
but  if  any  fisherman  shall  see  bass,  as  I  have  often,  lying 


STRIPED    BASS.  209 

in  a  deep  pool,  occasionally  leaping  out  or  sluggishly 
showing  their  back  fins  on  the  surface  and  refusing  all 
allurements,  let  him  try  scollops,  and  he  will  think  of 
me  in  his  dying  hour. 

As  the  days  grow  colder  and  the  crab  reassumes  his 
impenetrable  coat  and  dangerous  pincers,  shrimp  again 
come  into  play,  and  on  many  occasions  the  belly  of  the 
white  soft  clam  will  attract  the  bass  even  earlier  in  the 
season.  But  in  August  I  have  had  excellent  sport  cast- 
ing, if  I  may  use  the  word,  for  him  with  the  spearing. 
Early  in  Summer  a  delicate  little  fish  an  inch  or  two 
long,  pearly  white  and  semi-transparent,  with  a  black 
eye  and  a  white  band  along  the  lateral  line,  makes  its 
appearance  on  the  shores  of  Long  Island  Sound  and  else- 
where, and  has  come  to  be  called  the  spearing.  It  is 
a  beautiful  fish,  and  properly  dressed  might  rival  in 
delicacy  the  far-famed  English  white-bait ;  but  it  is  never 
brought  to  market  till  later  in  the  season,  when  it  has 
grown  several  inches  long  and  is  comparatively  tasteless. 
Being  too  small  in  the  early  summer  to  take  a  hook, 
they  are  difficult  to  catch  ;  but  an  excellent  net,  both  for 
them  and  killey-fish,  can  be  made  of  mosquito  netting 
stretched  double  between  two  hoop-poles,  with  a  stout 
cord  run  along  the  top  and  bottom  to  receive  the  leads 
and  floats  respectively.  The  netting  being  of  extra 
width,  can  be  doubled  together  with  the  lead  line  laid  in 
the  bag,  or,  as  sailors  would  say  of  a  rope,  in  the  bight, 
and  the  leads  being  small  pipe,  fastened  at  short  intervals, 
will  keep  the  net  close  to  the  bottom — an  important  par- 
ticular. It  should  be  five  to  six  yards  long;  and  two 
men,  taking  each  a  handle,  can  sweep  a  considerable  part 


210  STRIPED    BASS. 

of  the  shore,  and  often  fill  a  pail  with  minnows  or  spear- 
ing at  one  haul. 

The  killey-fish,  so  called  by  our  ancestors  from  being 
caught  in  the  kills  or  creeks,  and  which,  by  the  by,  are 
at  least  of  three  kinds  without  counting  sticklebacks, 
will  rush  about  and  try  to  creep  under  the  net ;  but  spear- 
ing, which  always  go  in  shoals,  when  once  in  the  net  do 
not  seem  to  be  able  to  escape,  and  will  stay  there  as  long 
as  it  is  kept  in  motion.  No  fisherman  living  near  the 
water  should  be  without  this  contrivance,  as  nothing  is 
so  annoying  as  to  be  unable  to  get  bait ;  he  will  soon 
acquire  considerable  skill  in  its  use,  and  if  he  is  as  boy- 
ish as  a  fisherman  ought  always,  though  grey-headed,  to 
be,  he  will  experience  much  excitement  in  the  pursuit 
even  of  his  bait.  If  spearing  cannot  be  had,  though 
that  is  rare,  the  barred  killey,  vulgarly  called  the  bass 
killey,  is  the  next  in  beauty  and  attractiveness  ;  it  is  the 
Fundulus  fasciatus,  or  striped  killey-fish  of  De  Kay, 
and  if  it  cannot  be  had,  the  ugly  green  killey-fish,  Fun- 
dulus viridescens,  may  be  used,  but  with  doubtful  suc- 
cess. 

To  cast  with  spearing  in  the  manner  here  suggested 
successfully,  a  stout  long  salmon  rod  will  be  requisite. 
A  small  hook  is  run  through  the  spearing's  mouth  and 
out  at  his  side,  for  he  is  long  since  dead,  and  a  cast  is 
made  into  the  foaming  torrent  of  a  mill-tail  or  rushing 
tide.  The  bait  is  drawn  irregularly  over  the  surface  of 
the  water,  and  again  cast  and  played  like  the  fly.  The 
bass  strike  it  as  trout  or  salmon  take  the  latter;  and 
there  is  the  same  skill  and  uncertainty  in  the  pursuit. 

I  was  once  fishing  in  this  manner  for  snapping  mack- 


STRIPED    BASS. 


erel,  the  young  of  the  blue-fish,  Temnodon  solicitor,  with 
single  gut  half  worn  through,  and  the  lightest  tackle. 
I  had  been  quite  successful,  much  to  the  disgust  of  older 
men  who  were  fishing  in  the  usual  manner  with  live 
killey  and  no  luck,  and  finally  made  a  cast  right  among 
a  number  of  their  floats.  Suddenly,  from  the  turbid 
depths,  shot  a  huge  bass,  gleamed  for  a  moment  in  the 
sunlight,  and  disappeared  beneath  the  surface  carrying 
my  spearing  in  his  mouth.  It  was  a  splendid  fish,  and 
my  skill  was  tried  to  the  utmost  ;  many  a  run  I  was 
forced  to  give  to,  and  only  the  great  length  of  line  I  had 
on  the  reel  saved  him  ;  after  a  good  half  hour's  excellent 
sport  I  brought  him  to  the  net,  and  my  companions  were 
still  more  disgusted  at  their  want  of  luck.  I  again  made 
a  few  casts,  catching  several  snappers,  when  another 
bass,  full  as  large  as  the  first,  struck  me  and  was  landed 
after  an  equally  spirited  contest.  This  was  early  in  Sep- 
tember, and  before  the  fish  were  taken  by  trolling  in 
that  neighborhood. 

In  June  and  October,  bass  of  great  size  are  captured 
off  Point  Judith  with  half  a  mossbunker,  otherwise  men- 
haden, hard-head  or  bony-fish,  the  Alosa  menhaden^ 
thrown  from  the  rocks  by  rod  or  hand  into  the  surf.  The 
bait  is  ordinarily  tied  on  the  hook,  which  is  large,  and 
thrown  without  float  or  sinker  as  far  into  the  sea  as  its 
weight  will  enable  the  fisherman  to  cast,  and  then  slowly 
reeled  or  drawn  in.  Similar  fishing  is  pursued  at  New- 
port, and  bass  are  frequently  taken  of  over  forty  pounds. 

A  favorite  mode  of  catching  these  fish  is  by  trolling 
from  a  boat  either  with  rod  and  line  or  hand-line  and 
with  the  natural  squid,  or  the  imitation  made  of  pewter, 


212  STRIPED    BASS. 

tin  or  bone.  In  this  mode  very  large  fish  were  once 
taken  at  Hell  Gate,  but  the  glory  thereof  has  departed. 
Where  squid  cannot  be  obtained,  the  large  spearing  or 
barred  killey  will  answer  well. 

There  is  this  redeeming  quality  about  taking  striped 
bass  with  the  float  and  sinker,  that  the  fishing  generally 
being  done  in  a  rapid,  and  at  times,  boisterous  current, 
the  bait  has  to  be  kept  in  motion,  and  it  is  necessary  to 
reel  in  and  cast  out  every  few  minutes.  As  great  skill 
in  casting  can  be  obtained,  and  there  is  an  immense 
advantage  in  throwing  into  the  exact  spot,  it  is  truly  a 
sportsmanlike  mode  of  procedure.  A  good  fisherman 
can  cast  thirty  to  forty  yards,  or  even  more,  into  the  size 
of  a  hat,  without  tangling  the  line  or  jerking  the  bait, 
while  the  tyro  will  generally  fail  reaching  half  the  dis- 
tance, and  will  frequently  leave  his  baits  on  the  way.  I 
can  cast  better  and  further  from  the  left  side,  and  have 
heard  many  old  fishermen  say  the  same,  but  you  must  be 
able  to  use  the  rod  on  either  side. 

As  there  are  persons  so  ignorant  as  not  to  know  how 
to  cast  at  all,  and  as  I  once  found  one  stopping  his  reel 
with  his  first  finger,  I  will  say  that  to  make  a  cast  the 
line  is  reeled  up  till  the  float  touches  the  tip,  or  in 
case  no  float  is  used,  till  the  bait  is  within  a  foot  of  it, 
the  right  hand  grasps  the  rod  at  the  reel,  which  is  turned 
up,  and  the  thumb  placed  upon  it  to  regulate  the  escape 
of  the  line ;  the  left  hand  is  near  the  but ;  the  point  of  the 
rod  is  then  carried  back  behind  the  fisherman,  and  with 
a  steady,  springy  motion  is  suddenly  brought  forward 
and  the  line  delivered.  A  jerk,  or  the  fouling  of  the  line, 
which  will  surely  happen  if  it  is  allowed  to  overrun,  will 


STRIPED    BASS.  213 

certainly  tear  off  your  baits,  and  perhaps  your  float  and 
sinker ;  the  sinker  must  strike  the  water  in  advance  of 
the  float,  or  the  leader  is  apt  to  hitch  round  the  upper 
point  of  the  latter. 

The  most  scientific  and  truly  sportsmanlike  mode  of 
taking  striped  bass  must  be  admitted  to  be  with  the  fly ; 
which,  unfortunately,  can  only  be  done  in  the  brackish 
or  fresh  water.  Like  salmon,  they  will  not  take  the  fly 
in  the  salt  creeks  and  bays,  and  thus,  though  the  sport  is 
excellent,  it  is  confined  to  few  localities,  and  those  diffi- 
cult of  access.  Fly-fishing  may  be  done  either  with  the 
ordinary  salmon  rod,  or  in  a  strong  current  with  the 
common  bass  rod,  by  working  your  fly  on  the  top  of  the 
water  and  giving  a  considerable  length  of  line.  The 
best  fly  is  that  with  the  scarlet  ibis  and  white  feathers 
mixed,  the  same  as  used  for  black  bass ;  but  bass  may 
be  taken  with  any  large  fly,  especially  those  of  gay  color. 
Excellent  sport  is  frequently  had  in  this  way  from  oif 
some  open  bridge,  where  the  falling  tide,  mixed  with  the 
fresh  water,  rushes  furiously  between  the  piers. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  the  best  time  for  bass 
fishing  is  at  night,  especially  if  the  moon  be  bright. 
The  most  favorable  wind  is  a  southwesterly  one,  strong 
enough  to  make  a  good  ripple  on  the  water,  and  the 
right  time  of  tide  from  half-ebb  to  half-flood.  In  the 
shallower  inlets  the  neap  tides  are  preferable,  as  they 
do  not  drain  the  water  so  low  as  to  alarm  the  fish. 

In  bass  fishing,  whether  for  trolling  or  casting,  the  rod 
should  be  eight  to  ten  feet  long,  stiff  and  light,  but  with 
a  certain  amount  of  elasticity.  A  rod  made  of  a  piece 
of  bamboo,  cut  in  two  joints,  will,  until  some  awkward 


214  STRIPED    BASS. 

friend  steps  on  and  breaks  it,  answer  as  well  as  any  other, 
and  one  that  costs  three  dollars  is  in  every  particular  as 
good  as  one  worth  forty.  The  light  bamboo  jointed  rods 
of  our  ancestors  are  no  more  to  be  had ;  the  makers  say 
it  is  impossible  to  get  the  cane  of  the  proper  taper,  and 
rods  of  ash  and  hickory  have  come  into  fashion.  The 
latter  will  answer  every  purpose,  but  as  they  are  sure  to 
warp,  the  guides  should  be  double,  so  that  the  line  can 
be  shifted  from  one  side  to  the  other.  Patent  standing 
guides  are  all  the  fashion  with  us,  though  the  English 
use  the  old-fashioned  rings  made  large.  Of  course  we 
prefer  our  own  invention.  The  funnel-top  should  be 
large,  and  for  a  valuable  rod,  or  a  particular  gentleman, 
should  be  made  of  agate.  They  are  infinitely  superior 
to  the  old-fashioned  ring-top  still  used  in  England.  Avoid 
having  many  guides ;  they  create  friction,  and  three  or 
four  will  answer  every  purpose. 

If  you  are  a  gentleman  and  a  man  of  fortune,  of  lavish 
hand  and  open  heart,  you  should  use  what  is  called  a 
grass  or  raw  silk  line,  buying  a  new  one  every  two 
weeks,  by  which  time  it  will  be  rotted  out.  It  does  not 
kink  or  over-run,  works  beautifully,  and  will  enable  you 
to  cast  ten  yards  further  than  with  any  other;  but  it  is 
not  strong  at  best,  will  rot  immediately  if  not  dried  after 
the  least  exposure,  and  costs  money.  If  you  are  a  poor 
or  a  careless  man,  buy  a  new  flax  line  every  year,  and 
throw  it  away  in  the  Fall,  after  being  disgusted  with  it 
all  the  season.  If  you  are  neither  of  these,  buy  a  plaited 
silk  line  of  one  hundred  yards ;  be  sure  and  get  a  new 
one,  and  take  care  of  it. 

Lines  may  be  preserved  from  rotting  by  being  dipped 


STRIPED    BASS.  215 

in  a  mixture  made  of  one  pound  of  printer's  varnish, 
half  a  pound  of  siccity,  and  one  gill  of  spirits  of  tur- 
pentine, warmed  up  together,  or  in  the  ordinary  drying 
oil  sold  at  the  paint  shops,  and  although  they  do  not 
render  quite  so  easy,  I  have  all  mine,  trout  and  bass 
lines,  so  prepared.  I  cannot  take  the  trouble  to  dry  my 
lines  after  every  exposure,  and  if  once  forgotten,  without 
being  so  protected,  they  are  ruined.  A  well-made  silk 
line  is  strong  enough  to  hang  oneself  by,  if  the  angler 
should  be  disgusted  with  life  by  his  ill  luck,  and  coated 
in  this  manner  they  will  last  a  long  time.  They  do  not 
get  saturated  or  take  up  water  in  casting,  and  do  not 
stick  to  the  rod  as  they  otherwise  would.  Lines  for  fly- 
fishing, prepared  in  a  similar  manner,  are  sold  in  the 
fishing-tackle  stores,  although  the  makers  are  opposed  to 
an  improvement  that  will  diminish  their  business.  The 
line  is  dipped  in  the  preparation  when  warm,  and  left  in 
all  night ;  it  is  removed  next  morning  after  the  mixture 
has  been  rewarmed,  and  is  stretched  in  a  garret  or  other 
place  not  exposed  to  the  sun  or  rain,  and  the  superfluous 
varnish  wiped  off,  and  after  it  is  thoroughly  dried,  it  is 
well  rubbed.  This  preparation  cannot  be  used  with  linen 
or  cotton  lines,  as  it  will  rot  them. 

In  striking  a  bass  you  cannot  be  too  quick,  and  when 
fishing  with  a  float  your  line  will  sink  in  the  water  and 
enable  you  to  trip  the  float  and  fix  the  hook  at  once. 
The  fish  must  then  be  kept  well  in  hand;  but  never 
exhibit  severity  unless  compelled  by  circumstances;  be 
rough,  and  the  fish  will  be  rough ;  be  gentle,  and  he  will 
corne  to  you  like  a  friend.  Keep  him  from  the  rocks  and 
bottom  if  possible ;  but  give  to  his  willful  rushes  till  he 


216  STRIPED    BASS. 

is  content  to  listen  to  reason.  By  this  course  you  will 
avoid  feeling  often  that  sinking  of  the  heart  that  follows 
when  the  strain  suddenly  ceases  on  your  line,  and  you 
know  he  has  escaped. 

That  fine  game  fish  of  the  southern  States  usually 
called  bass  or  red-fish,  belongs  to  another  family,  and  is 
the  Oorvina  ocellata,  or  branded  corvina.  It  is  distin- 
guished by  a  peculiar  black  spot,  like  a  drop  of  ink,  near 
the  tail.  It  furnishes  noble  sport  and  excellent  eating, 
abounds  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and 
is  highly  prized  at  southern  tables. 


BLACK    BASS.  217 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

BLACK  BASS. 

Gristes  Nigricans  (Agassiz) — Centrarchus  Fasciatus 
(De  Kay). 

This  fish  has  innumerable  scientific  names,  while  it  can 
scarcely  be  said  to  have  any  distinctive  popular  one. 
Bass,  either  alone  or  with  some  additional  appellation,  is 
applied  by  common  usage  to  almost  the  entire  perch  fam- 
ily, one  of  the  largest  among  the  American  fishes,  while 
scientific  men  are  at  as  great  a  loss  for  appropriate  nomen- 
clature or  accurate  distinctions.  There  are  probably 
several  species  classed  under  the  same  name  as  this  fish, 
and  itself  differs  greatly  in  color  and  appearance,  accord- 
ing to  its  food,  water  or  locality.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
all  fish,  and  more  especially  trout,  change  their  hues 
according  to  the  color  of  the  water  they  inhabit,  or  even 
to  the  light  or  shade  of  their  favorite  haunts.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  they  assimilate  to  the  bottom  where  they  are 
found,  a  provision  of  nature  to  protect  them  from  their 
enemies  of  the  air.  Unquestionably  the  same  species 
present  a  very  different  appearance  in  clear,  limpid 
streams,  and  in  muddy,  sluggish  brooks.  Black  Bass  are 
said  to  possess  of  themselves  the  power  to  change  their 
color  at  will,  and  have  been  known  to  do  so  repeatedly 
when  confined  in  a  vessel  of  water.  They  are  found  to 

10 


218  BLACK    BASS. 

have  black,  green  and  yellow  sides,  according  to  circum- 
stances, and  often  within  a  short  distance  of  one  another, 
though  their  backs  are  generally  dusky  black. 

The  gill-cover  has  two  flat  points,  the  teeth  are  minute, 
while  the  back  fin,  though  single,  is  partly  divided  into 
two.  It  contains  ten  hard  and  fourteen  soft  rays ;  the 
pectoral  has  eighteen  soft  rays,  the  ventral  six,  the  first 
one  almost  spinous,  the  anal  three  spines,  the  first  very 
short,  and  twelve  soft  rays,  and  the  tail  sixteen  soft  rays. 
This  fish  has  been  confounded  with  the  Lake  Huron  Black 
Bass,  Hiiro  nigricans,  which  is  now  supposed  to  be  a 
different  variety,  characterized  by  two  longitudinal  lines 
or  stripes  running  the  entire  length  of  its  body. 

The  gill-rays  are  six  and  the  fin-rays,  as  given  by  Dr. 
De  Kay,  are  as  follows,  but  I  think  liable  to  consider- 
able variation. 

D.  9.1.14 ;  P.  18  ;  Y.  5  ;  A/3.12  ;  C.  16£. 

Black  Bass,  belonging  as  they  do  to  the  perch  family, 
have  many  of  the  habits  and  can  be  captured  in  the 
same  manner  as  their  congeners.  But,  as  they  are  infi- 
nitely superior  in  flavor,  they  are  equally  so  in  game  and 
sporting  qualities.  They  will  take  minnows,  shiners, 
grasshoppers,  frogs,  worms,  or  almost  anything  else  that 
can  be  called  a  bait,  and  like  all  fish,  prefer  the  live  to 
the  dead.  They  may  be  fished  for  with  good  stout 
tackle,  gut  leaders,  a  reel,  and  an  ordinary  bass  rod,  in  the 
same  manner  as  fish  are  generally  captured  by  boys  and 
blockheads.  In  June  they  affect  the  grassy  bottom  in 
water  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  deep,  but  as  the  season 
advances  they  resort  to  the  rocky  shoals  and  rapid  cur- 
rents, where  they  are  taken  on  and  after  the  middle  of 


BLACK    BASS.  219 

July  by  sportsmen  with  the  fly.  They  may  be  captured 
by  casting  the  fly  as  for  salmon  or  trout,  and  this  is  by 
far  the  most  sportsmanlike  way,  but  the  most  destructive 
and  usually  resorted  to  is  trolling.  For  casting,  a  two- 
handed  seventeen  foot  salmon  rod  is  preferable,  while  for 
trolling,  a  short  bass  rod  is  the  thing.  By  anchoring 
your  boat  to  the  windward  of  a  shoal,  or  by  walking  out 
on  some  point  of  rocks,  you  can  command  a  great  extent 
of  water  with  your  fly-rod,  and  have  royal  sport  alone, 
whereas  for  trolling  an  oarsman  is  indispensable. 

The  flies  to  be  used  are  the  ordinary  small-sized  salmon 
flies,  not  too  gaudy,  though  the  first  dropper  and  tail  fly 
may  be  larger  and  made  of  white  and  ibis  feathers 
mixed.  In  casting  you  will  use  your  ordinary  cast,  but 
in  trolling  you  may  attach  five  or  six  flies  to  a  long  sal- 
mon leader  at  equal  distances,  and  will  frequently  take 
several  fish  at  a  time.  My  experience  has  convinced  me 
that  a  number  of  flies  attract  fish,  whether  trout  or  bass, 
and  the  more  you  can  conveniently  use  the  greater  will 
be  your  success. 

Black  bass  abound  in  the  northern  waters,  where  they 
are,  invariably  trolled  for  with  two  rods,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  boat,  in  the  same  manner  as  in  taking  pick- 
erel, but  two  rods  are  a  great  additional  trouble,  for 
when  a  fish  strikes  one  the  other  has  to  be  reeled  up  by 
your  boatman,  lest  the  hooks  sink  to  the  bottom.  If  the 
boat  is  kept  in  motion,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  reel  in 
a  large  bass,  and  would  make  a  labor  of  a  pleasure,  even 
if  he  should  be  eventually  captured. 

A  small  trolling  spoon  is  excellent  bait,  probably  pre- 
ferable to  the  fly  at  all  seasons  except  the  middle  of 


220  BLACK    BASS. 

July,  when  the  eel-fly,  the  principal  food  of  the  bass,  is 
just  disappearing,  and  the  artificial  fly  is  then  a  luxury. 
In  case  a  spoon  is  used,  the  shank  of  the  hook  is  usually 
wound  with  ibis  feathers,  and  a  Buel's  patent  is  the 
favorite.  It  has  been  recommended  at  times  to  fasten  a 
forked  piece  of  pickerel  tongue  on  the  bend  of  your  fly- 
hook,  but  like  a  similar  direction  as  to  a  worm  on  a  trout 
fly-hook,  I  have  no  faith  in  it.  Another  successful  bait 
that  has,  in  my  opinion,  more  reputation  than  value,  is 
the  Mil-devil,  a  creature  that  is  beyond  my  powers  of 
description,  and  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

The  hours  and  days  favorable  for  fishing  are,  in  the 
main,  similar  for  all  fish  ;  if  the  water  is  deep  or  turbid 
there  may  be  an  exception,  but  generally  a  southwesterly 
wind,  a  cloudy  sky,  and  the  morning  and  evening  hours, 
will  yield  the  best  sport.  This  is  so  for  black  bass,  and 
the  more  wind  the  better,  until  it  becomes  difficult  to 
row  and  manage  the  boat.  In  the  western  wilds,  where 
deer  are  plentiful,  an  attractive  fly  is  made  by  tying  a 
white  and  red  tuft  of  deer's  hair  along  the  shank  of  the 
hook  ;  the  thread  being  passed  round  the  middle  of  the 
tuft,  allows  the  upper  part  of  the  hairs  to  be  bent  back 
by  the  motion  through  the  water,  giving  an  appearance 
of  life  to  the  bait. 

An  ingenious  mode  of  proceeding  is  suggested  in 
Brown's  Angler's  Guide,  that  is  worthy  of  young  Ameri- 
can genius,  to  which  it  is  attributed.  A  boy  having 
caught  a  sun-fish,  runs  his  hook  through  its  nose  arid  out 
at  its  mouth,  covering  the  point  with  a  lively  worm. 
Other  sun-fish,  seeing  their  fellow  have  all  to  himself  a 
fine,  fat  worm  which  he  seems  unable  to  master,  collect 


BLACK    BASS.  221 

round  him,  and  by  their  numbers  attract  the  bass,  who 
dashes  in  among  them,  and  while  the  rest  make  off, 
swallows  the  one  with  the  worm,  and  of  course  himself 
falls  a  prey  to  the  ingenious  young  fisherman.  This, 
like  the  use  of  cray-fish,  mice,  swallows,  and  many  other 
baits,  may  be  excellent,  but  I  have  never  tried  it  or 
them  ;  so  long  as  the  fish  will  take  a  fly,  I  fish  with 
nothing  else  ;  ifc  is  infinitely  more  exciting  to  kill  one  fish 
on  the  fly  than  ten  with  bait. 

Black  bass  are  taken  among  the  Thousand  Isles  in 
immense  numbers,  but  not  of  any  great  size,  rarely 
exceeding  three  pounds.  In  Lake  Champlain,  near 
House's  Point,  and  in  the  lakes  of  Canada,  they  grow 
larger.  The  largest,  probably,  never  exceeding  eight 
pounds.  They  are  taken  in  most  of  the  waters  of  the 
northern  and  northwestern  States,  especially  in  the 
Niagara  and  Detroit  rivers,  Lake  St.  Clair,  Lake  Erie 
and  Lake  Huron.  They  make  their  appearance  from 
deep  water  in  May  and  June,  grow  to  great  excellence 
in  July,  spawn  in  August,  and  are  again  in  condition  in 
September  and  October.  They  are  a  fine,  noble  game 
fish,,  and  where  trout  are  not  to  be  had  are  well  worthy 
of  the  sportsman's  attention  ;  when  captured,  which  can 
only  be  done  by  skill  and  care,  they  prove  an  excellent 
addition  to  the  table. 

The  fish  usually  known  as  trout  at  the  South,  albeit 
that  name  is  applied  to  many  varieties,  is  a  species  of 
black  bass,  and  is  taken  by  trolling  with  a  rod  and  short 
line  before  the  boat  as  it  is  rowed  along. 


222  ROCK    BASS. 


CHAPTEE    XXIII. 

BOCK    BASS. 

Centrarckus  ^Eneus. — This  is  an  entirely  distinct  spe- 
cies from  the  Black  Bass,  though,  being  somewhat  similar 
in  color  and  shape,  is  often  confounded  with  them.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  the  Oswego  Bass,  which  is  now 
ascertained  to  be  equally  distinct,  though  commonly 
known  as  bass,  and  supposed  to  be  identical.  The  fish 
under  consideration  must  in  no  wise  be  confounded  with 
the  Rock-fish  of  Pennsylvania,  which  is  the  Striped  Bass, 
Labrax  lineatus,  and  which  the  benighted  Pennsylva- 
nians  would  oblige  us  by  calling  by  its  right  name. 

The  Hock  Bass  has  two  flat  points  at  the  angle  of  the 
gill-cover,  and  is  distinguished  from  the  variety  last  de- 
scribed by  six  or  seven  spines  and  eleven  soft  rays  in  the 
anal  fin.  The  dorsal  has  eleven  spines,  and  ten  or  twelve 
soft  rays  ;  the  pectoral  fourteen  soft  rays,  the  ventral  one 
spine  and  five  soft  rays,  and  the  gill-rays  are  six.  The 
fin-rays  are  given  by  Dr.  De  Kay  as  follows  : 

D.  11.12  ;  P.  14  ;  Y.  1.5  ;  A.  6.11 ;  C.  17f. 

This  fish  is  found  in  much  the  same  waters  as  the 
black  bass,  and,  like  the  latter,  made  its  way  on  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Champlain  canal  through  it  into  the  Hudson 
River.  It  takes  any  of  the  ordinary  baits,  preferring, 
however,  the  cray-fish,  Astacus  Bartoni^  and  can  be 


ROCK    BASS.  223 

captured  even  with  the  fly,  but  not  readily.  In  the  St. 
Lawrence  River  it  feeds  mostly  011  the  eel-fly,  so  long  as 
that  lasts,  choosing,  I  believe,  the  dead  ones ;  and  in 
July  I  have  found  them  filled  with  that  fly.  They  never 
attain  the  size  of  the  larger  black  bass,  although  they 
are  taken  of  over  three  pounds,  but  are  a  brave,  vora- 
cious fish,  and  excellent  at  table. 


224  THE    PIKE    PERCH. 


CHAPTEK    XXIV. 

THE   PIKE   PERCH. 

Lucioperca  Americana. — This  fish  is  mentioned  more 
on  account  of  the  absurd  misnomers  that  have  been 
applied  to  it,  to  warn  persons  against  similar  errors,  than 
on  account  of  its  sporting  qualities.  There  appears  to 
be  some  confusion  among  naturalists  concerning  this 
family ;  there  is  probably  an  undescribed  species.  Dr. 
De  Kay  mentions  a  bluish  fish  which  he  regarded  not  as 
a  distinct  variety,  but  as  an  aged  specimen.  By  a  close 
comparison  of  the  two,  I  am  satisfied  that  although  the 
scientific  peculiarities  are  wonderfully  alike,  there  are 
substantial  differences. 

The  Pike  Perch  is  called  the  Glass-eye,  the  Big-eyed 
Pike,  the  Pickerel,  Pickering,  and  Pike  of  the  Lakes  ; 
whereas  a  simple  suggestion  will  establish  the  difference 
between  it  and  the  pikes  or  pickerel.  The  latter  has  all 
the  fin-rays  soft,  and  the  ventrals  in  the  centre  of  the 
abdomen,  whereas  this  fish,  which  is  a  true  perch,  has 
many  spinous  rays,  and  the  ventrals  close  beneath  and 
just  behind  the  pectorals. 

The  Pike  Perch  is  of  an  olive  color  on  the  back,  yel- 
lowish on  the  sides,  and  white  beneath.  It  attains  a 
weight  of  thirty  pounds,  and  is  distinguished  particularly 
by  the  peculiarity  of  having  the  membrane  attached  to 


THE    PIKE    PERCH.  225 

the  last  two  rajs  of  the  first  dorsal  jet  black,  whereas 
that  attached  to  the  other  rays  is  yellow.  The  lower 
edge  of  the  gill-cover  has  been  described  as  smooth,  but 
I  find  the  fore  part  of  it  slightly  serrated ;  the  posterior 
part  has  one  flat  spine,  beyond  which  there  is  a  pointed 
membrane,  and  above  a  rudimentary  spine.  There  is  a 
series  of  sharp  teeth  on  both  jaws  and  the  gill-arches, 
two  in  the  front  of  each  jaw  being  long  and  conspicuous. 
The  base  of  the  tongue  is  roughened  but  toothless,  and  I 
can  find  no  teeth  on  the  vomer.  The  scales  are  not  large, 
and  have  the  edges  marked  out  by  a  series  of  dots. 

The  fins,  as  I  make  them,  are — 

Br.  T ;  D.  13.2.20  ;  P.  10  ;  Y.  1.5  ;  A.  1.14  ;  C.  17f . 

But  according  to  Dr.  De  Kay  they  are — 

Br.  7  ;  D.  13.1.21 ;  P.  15  ;  Y.  1.5  ;  A.  1.14 ;  O.  17f . 

The  color  of  the  anal  is  reddish  yellow ;  of  the  ven- 
trals  light  yellow,  and  pectorals  yellowish  olive.  There 
are  scales  on  the  gill-covers  ;  those  on  the  fore  gill-cover 
being  scattered  and  few.  Beyond  these  differences  my 
examination  found  the  ordinary  pike  of  the  lakes  to  ac- 
cord with  the  description  of  Dr.  De  Kay  ;  but  the  other 
species  that  I  have  mentioned  was  very  different  both  in 
color  and  appearance,  and  is,  as  I  conceive,  the  true 
Ohio  salmon,  a  name  that  has  been  applied  to  the  spe- 
cies just  described. 

As  for  the  color  in  the  latter  species,  that  was  totally 
different,  being  so  far  like  the  salmon  as  to  have  no 
doubt  given  origin  to  the  name.  It  is  bluish  grey  on 
the  back,  greyer  on  the  sides,  and  white  on  the  abdomen. 
The  only  part  of  membrane  of  the  dorsal  of  the  salmon 
that  is  black  is  that  attached  to  the  last  spine  alone  of 

10* 


226  THE    PIKE    PERCH. 

the  first  dorsal.  The  shape  of  the  fore  gill-cover  is 
slightly  different,  and  the  spines  on  its  edge  are  more 
distinct  and  regular,  like  teeth.  There  are  no  bars  on 
any  fin  except  the  dorsal ;  there  are  no  scales  on  the  gill- 
cover,  and  the  fins  are  all  light  and  transparent.  There 
are  minute  teeth  on  the  base  of  the  tongue. 

The  fish  that  this  description  is  taken  from  were  found 
in  "New  York  market  on  the  25th  day  of  February,  and 
may  have  been  altered  by  their  winter  dress ;  but  they 
were  unknown  to  the  fish-dealers,  one  of  whom  called 
my  attention  to  them  and  inquired  their  name.  They 
did  not  weigh  over  a  pound,  and  the  largest  was  fifteen 
inches  long,  of  which  the  head  was  four.  Of  the  dorsal, 
the  second,  third  and  fourth  rays  were  the  longest. 
Being  but  a  sportsman,  I  mention  these  matters  to  attract 
the  attention  of  the  learned,  who  would  do  us  a  favor  if 
they  would  seek  out  the  old  Indian  names  to  apply  to 
our  anonymous  fish. 

There  is  a  third  described  species  of  lucioperca  or  pike 
perch,  as  the  word  means ;  lucioperca  grisea,  that  is 
found  in  the  limits  of  New  York,  as  well  as  the  lucio- 
perca canadensis,  which  belongs  to  Canada. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  Dr.  De  Kay  puts  the  length 
of  the  lucioperca  americana  at  14.5,  but  says  they  are 
occasionally  much  larger  ;  whereas  the  fish  known  as  the 
pike  of  the  lakes  is  taken  in  immense  quantities  in  Lake 
Ontario,  in  April,  of  twenty  pounds'  weight,  and  rarely 
falls  below  five.  There  is  a  small  pike  perch  known  as 
the  sorga,  with  the  same  general  characteristics,  but  with 
the  membrane  attached  to  the  last  spine-ray  of  the  first 
dorsal  alone  black.  The  back  is  yellow  mottled  with 


THE    PIKE    PERCH.  227 

black,  and  shaded  down  the  sides  to  white  on  the  abdo- 
men ;  the  first  dorsal  is  yellow  with  dusky  spots ;  the 
second  dorsal  and  tail  yellow  with  dusky  bars  ;  the  gill- 
cover  is  scaled  and  the  fore  gill-cover  partly  scaled.  It 
is  precisely  the  shape  of  what  I  call  the  Ohio  salmon, 
but  of  a  totally  different  color.  Its  length  is  about 
twelve  inches,  and  its  weight  does  not  exceed  a  pound. 
The  fin-rays  are — 

Br.  r ;  I>.  12.1.18  ;  P.  12  ;  Y.  5  ;  A.  1.11 ;  C.  17f . 

There  are  unquestionably  at  least  three  distinct  varie- 
ties, besides  the  grey  and  the  Canadian  pike  perch ; 
they  are  popularly  known  as  the  pike  the  sorga,  and  the 
Ohio  salmon,  and  all  are  highly  esteemed  for  the 
table. 


228  THE    YELLOW    PERCH. 


CHAPTEE    XXY. 

THE    YELLOW   PEKCH. 

Perca  Flavescens. — The  Yellow  Perch  has,  as  his 
name  indicates,  a  predominant  yellow  color  on  his 
sides ;  there  are  a  number  of  dark  vertical  bars  over 
the  back,  and  the  pectorals,  ventrals  and  anal  are 
orange.  The  gill-cover  is  serrated  beneath  and  armed 
with  a  long  spine,  and  the  fore  gill-cover  has  a  toothed 
margin.  There  are  two  dorsals ;  the  ventrals  are  be- 
neath and  slightly  behind  the  pectorals,  and  the  teeth 
are  mimite.  The  greatest  weight  is  four  or  five  pounds. 
The  fin-rays  are  as  follows — 

D.  13.2.15  ;  Y.  1.5  ;  A.  2.8  ;  0.  lYf . 

Unfortunately,  this  fish,  equally  despised  by  the 
gourmand  and  the  sportsman,  abounds  in  our  fine  ponds 
and  lakes,  that  ought  to  be  devoted  to  his  noble  con- 
gener, the  black  bass.  He  will  take  the  fly  if  it  is 
allowed  to  rest  in  the  water,  and  after  hooking  a  trout 
that  had  fouled  in  the  weeds,  I  have  found  a  perch  on 
the  second  fly.  He  spawns  in  April  or  May,  seeking 
the  sandy  shore,  near  projecting  roots,  where  there  is 
a  depth  of  a  foot  of  water.  I  have  seen  them  crowd- 
ed together,  male  and  female,  jostling  and  following  one 
another  round  and  round  through  the  roots,  pressing  out 
milt  and  spawn,  and  so  busily  engaged  that  they  could 


THE    YELLOW    PERCH. 


229 


be  taken  with  the  net  or  the  hand.  In  mere  wantonness 
and  desire  to  diminish  their  numbers  I  destroyed  all  I 
could,  hanging  them  on  strings  with  the  spawn  stream- 
ing from  them.  The  eggs,  which  were  almost  trans- 
parent, were  in  the  water  in  masses,  kept  together  by 
a  glutinous  substance,  and  each  marked  with  a  black 
spot,  and  could  be  taken  up  in  the  net,  straining  slowly 
through  the  meshes. 

Yellow  perch  will  take  worm  or  minnow,  preferring 
the  former,  and  it  is  probable  destroy  numbers  of 
young  trout.  Their  flesh  is  coarse,  white  and  tasteless. 
They  are  pursued  only  by  boys  and  ladies. 


230  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 


CHAPTEE  XXYI. 

PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

THERE  is  no  subject  more  important  to  the  material 
welfare  of  our  country,  or  that  a  persistent  and  willful 
disregard  of  the  laws  of  nature  has  rendered  more  neces- 
sary, than  the  culture  of  the  various  tribes  of  fish  that 
were  once  abundant  in  our  rivers  and  lakes  and  along 
our  coasts,  but  which  are  rapidly  diminishing,  and 
threaten  soon  to  become  extinct.  How  sad  it  is  to  think 
that  once  the  glorious  salmon  leaped  and  frisked  in  the 
quiet  waters  of  our  noble  Hudson,  and  sought  bowers  of 
love  in  its  cool  sources  ;  that  they  were  formerly  so  plenty 
in  the  Connecticut,  as  I  have  already  mentioned,  that  a 
person  buying  shad  was  required  to  take  a  proportion  of 
salmon.  How  great  the  loss,  not  merely  to  us  sports- 
men, but  to  the  long-headed  political  economists,  who 
calculate  to  a  penny  all  that  a  nation  would  bring  if  put 
up  at  auction,  and  look  at  everything  as  a,  source  of 
wealth. 

Thousands  of  dollars  are* sent  yearly  to  Nova  Scotia 
and  the  Ganadas  to  pay  for  salmon  that  even  there  are 
rapidly  diminishing,  whereas,  with  a  little  public  spirit, 
they  might  abound  at  our  own  doors.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  all  these  streams  might  be  restored,  and  many  others 
supplied  with  salmon,  at  little  expense  and  less  trouble ; 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  231 

in  fact,  the  sportsmen  would  take  the  affair  into  their 
own  hands,  if  the  proper  legislation  could  be  obtained. 
But  so  long  as  private  individuals  are  allowed  to  dam 
the  water-courses  by  an  obstruction  so  constructed  that 
the  fish  cannot  surmount  it,  so  long  will  private  enter- 
prise and  public  effort  both  be  in  vain.  A  dam,  no  mat- 
ter how  high,  is  rendered  entirely  harmless  by  being  pro- 
vided with  a  narrow  sluiceway  or  flume,  a  few  feet  wide 
and  leading  to  the  water  beneath,  or  by  boxes  placed 
one  below  another,  making  a  number  of  small  leaps. 
This  the  salmon  can  surmount,  even  with  a  moderate 
depth  of  water,  and  will,  if  left  undisturbed,  readily 
ascend  at  night.  It  occasions  no  loss  to  the  proprietor, 
is  built  at  little  expense,  and  yet  the  want  of  it  has  cost 
our  State  alone  millions.  It  is  now  required  in  the  dams 
of  Lower  Canada,  where  effective  laws  have  lately  been 
found  necessary  to  preserve  the  fish  even  there  from 
annihilation,  and  could  be  introduced  on  all  our  streams 
for  one-tenth  the  annual  tax  we  pay  to  the  British  Pro- 
vinces for  salmon.  "With  the  destruction  of  the  forests, 
saw-mills,  those  enemies  of  fish-kind,  have  greatly  dimin- 
ished, and  could  easily  be  so  regulated  as  to  do  no  harm, 
and  as  the  same  thing  may  be  said  of  the  tanneries,  there 
need  be  nothing  to  drive  the  fish  away  were  the  waters 
replenished.  This  we  sportsmen  will  undertake  to  do,  if 
our  legislature  will,  for  a  few  moments,  forget  Republi- 
can and  Democrat,  and  attend  to  the  interests  of  their 
constituents  by  passing  laws  similar  to  these  enacted  for 
the-Oanadas. 

It  is  strange  indeed  that,  while  we  pay  a  heavy  bounty 
to   our   countrymen   engaged  in  the  cod  fisheries,  we 


232  PROPAGATION    OF   FISH. 

should  be  unwilling  to  adopt  the  simplest  legislation  to 
preserve,  foster  and  protect  our  other  fishing  interests. 
Cod  are  not  generally  considered  equal  to  salmon  or 
trout,  and  although  at  present  more  numerous,  a  few 
years  of  culture  might  bring  the  latter  extensively  into 
competition.  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  give  statistics, 
but  the  salmon  that  are  sold  in  our  markets  fresh  and 
smoked,  to  say  nothing  of  that  which  is  pickled,  must 
amount  to  millions  annually.  No  one  single  subject  is 
so  important  and  so  capable  of  adding  to  the  wealth  of 
our  country  as  the  re-stocking  our  rivers  with  their 
natural  inhabitants. 

There  is  a  very  erroneous  impression,  encouraged,  too, 
it  is  shame  to  say,  by  Smith,  in  his  work  on  the  fish  of 
Massachusetts,  that  the  wild  creatures  of  the  woods  and 
waters  must,  in  the  nature  of  things,  disappear  before 
man.  Now,  although  this  is  a  lamentable  fact,  it  is  not 
a  necessary  consequence,  and  there  is  nothing  in  man's 
capturing  fish  or  killing  game,  properly  and  reasonably, 
that  will  seriously  diminish  their  numbers.  Fish  and 
birds  prey  on  one  another ;  for  every  large  trout  a  man 
takes  he  saves  a  hundred  small  ones  ;  for  every  hawk  he 
catches  hovering  over  his  barnyard,  and  kills,  he  saves  a 
hundred  quail,  and  thus,  although  he  kills  them  himself, 
he  preserves  them  from  vermin,  from  one  another,  and 
from  birds  of  prey.  If  he  will  add  to  this  a  very  little 
care  and  protection  of  the  young,  he  will  increase  the 
supply  a  thousand  fold. 

It  is  calculated  that  the  roe  of  one  shad  or  cod  wthild 
stock  the  world,  but  that  not  one  egg  in  a  million  arrives 
at  maturity.  The  lowest  calculation  of  the  roe  of  a 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  233 

•found  trout  is  five  hundred,  and  I  believe  it  frequently 
exceeds  a  thousand,  and  salmon  have  many  more.  Con- 
ceive, for  a  moment,  if  each  female  trout  produced  one- 
hundred  mature  fish,  which  in  three  years  would  each 
produce  one  hundred  more,  the  incredible  number  that 
would  exist. 

The  waters  of  the  earth  are  capable,  if  as  well  tilled, 
of  supporting  as  many  as  the  land ;  and  there  is  no 
reason  why  they  should  not  be  cultivated.  Nothing  is 
simpler ;  as  with  the  land  a  savage  may  scratch  up  the 
earth  sufficiently  with  a  stick  to  support  himself  and 
family,  a  scientific  farmer,  with  proper  tools,  would  in 
the  same  ground  support  a  hundred  times  as  many ;  so 
with  the  water,  a  careless,  lazy  person  will  get  one  fish 
for  ten  eggs,  while  a  thorough-going,  careful  laborer  will 
bring  to  perfection  almost  all. 

This  may  be  done  with  only  the  labor,  which,  in  fact, 
is  the  greatest  of  pleasures,  and  at  the  small  expense  of 
feeding  the  fish.  Young  fry  require  fine  food,  such  as 
meat  or  fish  grated,  but  as  they  grow  older,  devour 
almost  anything.  Ronalds,  the  author  of  the  "  Fly-fisher's 
Entomology,"  having  dosed  them  with  cayenne  pepper 
and  mustard,  found  it  not  in  the  least  disagreeable  or 
apparently  injurious. 

If  this  were  an  attempt  to  introduce  fish  where  they 
had  never  before  existed,  there  might  be  some  doubt  of 
its  success,  but  it  is  merely  following  a  course  adopted  in 
England  and  France  with  astonishing  results,  by  which 
many  streams  that  had  been  as  totally  depopulated  as 
the  Hudson,  and  none  could  be  more  so,  have  been 
entirely  restocked,  and  are  now  sources  of  great  profit  to 


234  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

their  owners.  There  is  nothing,  therefore,  in  the  least 
startling  or  original  about  the  undertaking,  and  it 
requires  public  aid  only  because  rivers  are  never  here 
owned,  as  in  England,  by  one  great  proprietor.  It 
applies  to  all  our  fresh  water  and  most  of  our  salt  water 
fish,  and  is  in  full  operation  upon  some  of  the  smaller 
ponds  in  this  country.  Where  the  fish  are  open  to  all, 
there  is  not  sufficient  interest  for  one  person  to  under- 
take their  culture,  and  as  this  must  always  be  the  case 
with  salmon,  their  production  must  be  made  either  a 
question  of  public  interest  or  private  enthusiasm.  The 
latter,  with  the  sanction  of  the  former,  will  be  fully  suf- 
ficient for  the  purpose. 

One  invariable  peculiarity  of  the  American  people  is, 
that  they  attack,  overturn  and  annihilate,  and  then 
laboriously  reconstruct.  Our  first  farmers  chopped  down 
the  forests  and  shade  trees,  took  crop  after  crop  of  the 
same  kind  from  the  land,  exhausted  the  soil  and  made 
bare  the  country ;  they  hunted  and  fished,  destroying 
first  the  wild  animals,  then  the  birds,  and  finally  the  fish, 
till  in  many  places  these  ceased  utterly  from  off  the  face 
of  the  earth ;  and  then,  when  they  had  finished  their 
work,  that  race  of  gentlemen  moved  west  to  renew  the 
same  course  of  destruction.  After  them  came  the  re- 
storers ;  they  manured  the  land,  left  it  fallow,  put  in 
practice  the  rotation  of  crops,  planted  shade  and  fruit 
trees,  discovered  that  birds  were  useful  in  destroying 
insects  and  worms,  passed  laws  to  protect  them  where 
they  were  not  utterly  extinct,  as  with  the  pinnated 
grouse,  of  Pennsylvania  and  Long  Island,  and  will, 
I  predict,  ere  long  re-stock  the  streams,  rivers  and 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  235 

ponds  with  the  best  of  the  fish  that  once  inhabited 
them. 

Another  utterly  erroneous  impression  exists  that  steam- 
boats and  river  craft  frighten  away  the  denizens  of  the 
deep,  and  the  disappearance  of  striped  bass  in  Hell  Gate 
is  brought  forward  as  an  evidence.  But  the  proof  does 
not  sustain  the  proposition ;  it  cannot  be  doubted  that 
the  fish  have  diminished,  but  in  Hell  Gate  the  change 
was  produced  by  blowing  out  Pot  Rock  and  destroying 
the  best  eddy.  It  may  be  well  to  remark,  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  benighted  individuals  who  do  not  reside  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  that  Pot  Rock  was  situated  in  the 
centre  of  Hell  Gate,  and  being  only  some  seven  feet 
under  water,  was  as  much  admired  by  the  bass  as  it  was 
dreaded  by  the  steamboats,  till  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment employed  a  French  gentleman  to  blow  it  to  pieces 
with  gunpowder,  so  that  there  should  be  twenty-one  feet 
of  water  over  it  at  low  tide.  Since  this  was  done  the 
bass  have  left  in  disgust,  and  the  steamboats  have  had 
the  better  of  it,  which  they  never  would  have  had  unless 
aided  by  gunpowder  and  a  Frenchman.  Of  course,  fish 
are  not  so  numerous  as  they  were  fifty  years  ago,  when 
there  was  little  market  for  them,  but  the  net  is  to  be 
blamed  rather  than  the  steamboat. 

The  first  attempt  at  artificial  fish-culture  in  Europe 
was  made  by  Messrs.  Gehen  and  Remy,  in  France, 
although  it  appears  to  have  been  known  to  and  prac- 
tised by  the  Chinese  for  centuries,  and  by  the  Germans 
a  hundred  years  previously.  In  1850,  the  attention  of 
the  French  government  was  called  to  their  efforts,  and 
M.  Milne  Edwards  was  appointed  by  the  Minister  of 


236  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

Agriculture  to  examine  into  the  subject.  His  report  was 
so  favorable  and  so  fully  confirmed  by  subsequent  inves- 
tigation, that  the  government  took  the  matter  under 
their  own  care,  established  extensive  works,  stocked  to 
repletion  many  of  the  rivers,  and  now  supply  all  France 
with  impregnated  egg  or  young  fry  of  the  best  varieties. 

In  England,  that  land  of  sportsmen,  the  discovery  was 
hailed  with  enthusiasm,  and  put  in  immediate  and  suc- 
cessful operation.  Millions  of  trout  and  salmon  were 
hatched,  and  the  results  were  truly  wonderful.  Rivers 
that  had  ceased  to  afford  a  single  fish  were  made  to  teem 
with  them,  and  large  revenues  were  obtained  from  the 
fishing  rights.  Over  a  million  fish  were  introduced  into 
the  waters  of  one  company,  and  surprising  discoveries 
were  made  as  to  their  growth.  In"  Scotland,  a  large 
number  of  young  salmon  or  smolts,  being  one  year  old 
and  averaging  an  ounce  weight,  were  marked  by  cutting 
off  the  adipose  dorsal  fin  of  every  hundredth  fish,  and 
allowed  to  descend  to  the  sea.  They  returned  in  two  or 
three  months,  the  smallest  weighing  three  pounds  and  a 
half,  and  the  largest  nine  pounds  and  a  half.  Suppose 
that  one  hundred  thousand  out  of  the  three  hundred 
thousand  hatched  returned,  having  gained  an  average 
weight  of  five  pounds,  and  worth  in  New  York  market 
forty  cents  a  pound,  will  some  one  that  is  good  at  figures 
please  calculate  the  hook  and  net  profits. 

Yery  confused  ideas  of  the  growth  of  fish  are  popularly 
entertained ;  numerous  contradictory  statements  are  to 
be  found  in  the  books  and  to  be  heard  from  sportsmen, 
but  the  truth  is  generally  missed ;  in  fact,  everything 
depends  upon  the  food.  A  strong  fish  grows  the  fastest ; 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  237 

the  larger  he  becomes  the  more  he  is  able  to  seize  and  bear 
away  from  his  brethren.  Hence,  in  the  same  hatching, 
I  have  seen  trout  at  one  year  of  age,  the  largest  of  which 
was  six  inches  long  and  the  smallest  less  than  three.  In 
two  years,  with  good  feeding  and  a  variety  of  food,  such 
as  is  always  to  be  found  in  a  newly-made  pond,  they  will 
grow  to  weigh  three-quarters  of  a  pound.  In  overstocked 
streams,  like  our  country  brooks,  where  there  is  little  on 
which  to  feed,  trout  never  attain  any  considerable  size  ; 
the  greater  number  will  not  exceed  a  few  ounces,  and  a 
pound  fish  is  looked  upon  with  awe. 

The  migratory  trout  that  go  to  the  sea  in  Winter  grow 
much  faster  than  those  that  remain  in  the  fresh  water, 
and  will  frequently  gain  a  pound  in  one  season.  With 
this  explanation,  these  differences  of  opinion  are  perfectly 
reconcilable,  one  observef^having  drawn  his  conclusions 
from  individuals  luxuriating  on  the  fat  of  the  land,  or 
rather  water,  and  another  drawing  his  from  some  poor, 
half  starved  specimens.  Range  of  water  is  indispensable 
to  the  attainment  of  great  size  ;  there  is  no  species  but  is 
puny  in  confined  limits — a  result  that  follows  naturally 
from  the  first  statement ;  in  large  streams  and  lakes 
there  is  greater  variety  and  abundance  of  food ;  but  they 
will  increase  rapidly  if  well  fed,  no  matter  how  restricted 
their  dwelling-place.  Frequently  a  trout  kept  in  a 
spring  will  attain  several  pounds  in  weight  in  conse- 
quence of  being  well  served  by  the  children  of  the  house- 
hold. A  gourmand  will  find  his  advantage  in  having 
them  stall-fed,  if  possible,  before  being  killed  for  the  table. 

Three-year  old  trout  spawn,  and  it  is  said  that  small 
trout  have  smaller  eggs  than  those  of  greater  size  and 


238  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

age,  that  the  young  of  the  latter  are  larger  and  grow 
faster  than  those  of  the  former  ;  but  my  observation  has 
not  convinced  me  that  this  is  the  case.  The  spawning 
season  commences  about  the  middle  of  October,  and  lasts 
nearly  two  months,  some  fish,  like  hens,  laying  and  hatch- 
ing earlier  than  others ;  a  great  convenience  to  the 
breeder,  who  is  not  hurried  by  their  coming  in  all  to- 
gether. Of  course,  the  young  appear  at  different  times, 
the  first  about  the  ninth  of  January  and  the  last  in 
March  ;  they  take  about  sixty  days  to  hatch,  according 
to  the  weather  and  water.  "When  they  first  appear,  the 
body  of  the  egg,  like  a  bag,  adheres  to  the  abdomen, 
and  its  absorption  forms  their  support  for  thirty  days, 
after  which  they  must  be  fed  with  pieces  of  worm,  of 
raw  or  cooked  fish,  and  of  raw  or  cooked  meat  grated  or 
pounded  fine  or  with  boiled  b^d.  They  eat,  also,  small 
animalcules  in  the  spring-water,  flies  or  insects  that  float 
upon  its  surface,  and  are  especially  fond  of  the  micro- 
scopic animals  in  stagnant  pools,  and  I  should  suppose 
of  the  minute  worms  generated  in  boiled  flour  allowed 
to  turn  sour.  But  contrary  to  the  generally  received 
opinion,  I  warn  breeders  to  keep  frogs  from  their  trout 
ponds  ;  as  these  live  on  the  young  fish.  Although  the 
trout  may  fancy  frog's  spawn,  which  is  questionable,  the 
latter  more  than  return  the  compliment  by  preferring 
the  young  fish  entire.  My  attention  was  particularly 
attracted  to  the  fact  that  around  the  pond  where  the  fry 
lived,  the  frogs  were  abundant,  while  there  were  none  in 
the  preserve  of  the  big  fish.  I  concluded  they  were 
afraid  of  the  latter,  till  one  day  I  caught  and  threw  a  frog 
to  them,  and  found,  much  to  my  surprise,  they  would 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  239 

not  swallow  him.  Being  some  hundreds  together,  they 
struck  at  him  as  they  would  at  a  stick  if  thrown  upon 
the  water,  but  immediately  dropped  and  let  him  escape 
to  land.  Although  I  tried  the  experiment  over  and  over 
again,  they  had  found  out  what  he  was,  and  now  would 
not  touch  him. 

To  complete  my  enlightenment,  I  only  wanted  an 
experience  which  was  destined  soon  to  be  furnished.  I 
had  an  aquarium  in  which  were  kept,  among  a  quantity 
of  small  minnows  and  other  fish,  a  frog  that  had  ex- 
panded from  a  tadpole,  together  with  several  tadpoles 
that  were  expanding  rapidly.  The  frog  had  attained  a 
respectable  size,  and  was  a  great  favorite,  from  the  readi- 
ness and  suddenness  with  which  he  seized  and  devoured 
flies  offered  to  him,  and  was  endeared  to  our  hearts  by 
several  hair-breadth  escapes,  such  as  jumping  out  of  the 
aquarium  and  being  lost  for  days  round  the  room,  and 
even  falling  out  of  the  window,  through  the  area  grating 
into  the  cellar.  He  was  wondrously  solemn,  but  had  a 
way  of  darting  on  a  fly  that  was  invariably  fatal.  We 
began  to  observe,  however,  that  our  small  fish  disap- 
peared strangely,  "  leaving  not  a  wreck  behind,"  and 
always  at  a  time  when  the  frog  seemed  to  have  suddenly 
grown  in  circumference.  This  continued  till  my  suspi- 
cions connected  the  two  together,  and  one  day  we  abso- 
lutely saw  him  seize  and  swallow  a  minnow  half  as  long 
as  his  own  body.  His  plan  was  to  remain  perfectly 
motionless  till  his  destined  prey  swam  near,  when  he 
would  make  one  spring,  and  devour  it  at  a  gulp.  In 
spite  of  his  cannibal  propensities,  we  kept  him,  although 
we  could  often  see  the  shape  of  a  fish  under  his  extended 


24:0  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

sides,  and  our  aquarium  was  nearly  depopulated,  till  at 
last  he  swallowed  one  of  his  brother  tadpoles,  and  our 
sense  of  justice  constrained  us  to  banish  him  to  the 
country. 

The  reason  that  the  frogs  collected  round  the  breed- 
ing-pond was  now  perfectly  apparent,  and  doubtless 
hundreds  of  fish  paid  for  their  presence.  Give  the 
fry  something  safer  than  frog  spawn ;  they  obtain 
so  much  from  the  water  they  need  little  extraneous 
food.  The  first  thing,  however,  is  to  get  the  young  trout 
to  feed. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  that  salmon  and  trout  are 
the  most  difficult  of  all  fish  to  breed  ;  they  require  more 
care,  and  have  to  be  watched  closely  in  consequence  of 
certain  unfortunate  habits.  For  instance,  they  will  eat 
one  another  ;  a  trout  of  twelve  inches  will  dispose  of  one 
of  six  and  think  nothing  of  it,  and  this  no  matter  how 
well  he  is  fed.  Perhaps  he  has  been  offended,  but 
it  rather  seems  to  me  an  experiment  to  see  how 
capacious  his  swallow  is.  When  large  and  small 
are  together,  the  latter,  being  the  most  active,  are 
invariably  first  to  seize  the  bait  or  food ;  no  man  ever 
caught  at  the  first  cast  the  largest  trout  out  of  a  shoal. 
While  the  smaller  ones  are  busy  with  the  food,  the  larger 
seize  them,  sometimes  even  by  mistake,  I  fancy,  in 
making  a  rush  at  the  same  morsel,  and  if  they  are  caught 
by  the  gills,  good  bye  to  them.  After  a  struggle,  they 
get  ended  round,  and  down  they  go  head  foremost,  their 
tails  often  waving  out  of  the  destroyer's  mouth  for  hours, 
a  sad  memento  of  their  untimely  fate.  Fish  of  one  year 
will  devour  those  of  the  next,  and  a  friend  of  mine  lost 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  241 

thousands  by  a  yearling  happening  accidentally  to  get 
among  the  fry  just  hatched. 

The  ponds  from  which  my  experience  is  mostly  drawn 
I  have  no  part  nor  parcel  in.  further  than  what  may  be 
claimed  from  having  furnished  extensive  advice  ;  but  I 
have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  their  success,  and  if  I  speak 
of  them  as  my  ponds  and  my  experiments,  the  party  that 
really  made  them  will  understand  and  excuse  me,  and 
the  public  will  comprehend  that  no  egotism  is  intended. 

They  are  five,  and  will  soon  be  more,  built  of  gravelly 
sand  along  a  bank  that  is  filled  with  pure,  clear  springs, 
and  about  five  feet  deep.  In  the  first  place,  the  musk- 
rats  are  annoying,  having  in  one  instance  tunnelled  a 
dam  and  let  out  over  a  hundred  breeders,  and  when  the 
expense  is  not  an  object,  it  is  well  to  put  a  fence  of 
boards  or  even  stone-work  in  the  middle  of  the  dam. 
These  ponds  all  communicate  with  one  another  at  the 
surface  of  the  water  by  a  sluiceway  that  can  be  closed 
at  pleasure,  and  each  can  be  drawn  off  dry  separately. 
In  that  which  might  be  called  the  highest,  and  communi- 
cates directly  with  the  principal  springs,  are  placed  a 
row  of  boxes  about  twelve  feet  square  and  one  foot  deep, 
divided  into  compartments  by  divisions  of  wood,  with 
openings  cut  to  let  the  water  circulate.  The  boxes  are 
kept  on  a  level  by  being  supported  on  stout  pegs  driven 
into  the  sand,  and  are  filled  about  half  full  of  pure  white 
gravel,  leaving  the  water  about  four  inches  deep.  There 
is  an  open  passageway  to  the  outside  and  through  the 
partitions,  whereby  the  fish  can  enter,  and  doors,  com- 
posed mainly  of  wire,  keep  off  leaves  and  twigs  that 
would  foul  the  water,  but  can  be  lifted  at  pleasure. 

Jl 


242  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

These  boxes  become  more  or  less  covered  yearly  with  a 
green  aquatic  growth  that  is  always  found  in  spring 
water,  and  need  a  good  scrubbing  every  Fall  before  they 
are  used.  The  gravel  need  not  be  changed,  and  the 
water  will  carry  off  the  sediment  as  the^  scrubbing  liber- 
ates it. 

The  fish,  however,  do  not  confine  themselves  to  these 
boxes,  but  spawn  all  over  the^  pond  in  every  little  scour 
that  the  spring  water  makes ;  for  as  yet  we  have  not 
tried  extruding  the  eggs  artificially,  having  attained  suffi- 
cient success  in  the  natural  method. 

The  breeders,  of  which  there  are  about  three  hundred, 
occupy  two  of  the  ponds,  and  the  others  are  used  for  keep- 
ing the  fish  of  the  various  years  separate  ;  at  the  age  of 
two  they  are  safe  to  be  trusted  and  may  be  said  to  be  of 
full  age,  and  even  in  twelve  months  have  learned  a  great 
deal  about  taking  care  of  themselves.  Some  of  the  breed- 
ers weigh  about  a  pound  and  a  half,  and  anything  less 
than  six  inches  left  among  them  would  be  devoured  at  once. 
They  were  originally  taken  on  their  spawning  beds  with 
a  scap-net,  but  are  now  kept  over  from  year  to  year, 
thriving  well  on  minnow  and  meat,  their  principal  food. 
In  order  to  spawn,  trout  seek  the  narrow  and  shallow 
spring  runs,  where  they  can  always  be  found  in  pairs, 
and,  with  a  little  skill,  caught  in  a  net  or  taken  with  the 
fly — for  I  utterly  deny  that  they  will  not  feed  when 
spawning — and  can  be  accumulated  in  that  way  from 
year  to  year  till  a  large  number  is  obtained.  While 
the  small  trout  are  in  the  breeding-pond,  the  large 
ones  are  rigidly  excluded,  but  when  they  have  been 
removed,  by  drawing  off  the  water  into  the  lower  ponds, 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  243 

and  the  spawning  season  has  arrived,  the  communica* 
tion  with  the  stew-pond  is  opened  and  the  breeders 
let  in.  They  do  all  their  pairing,  making  their  beds, 
spawning  and  milting  of  themselves  without  human 
help,  and  are  allowed  to  remain  till  about  the  first  of 
January,  when  the  pond  is  isolated  again  and  drawn  off, 
so  that  they  can  be  captured  with  a  scap-net  and 
returned  to  their  former  habitation.  Care  must  be  taken 
to  handle  them  as  little  as  possible,  as  handling  rubs 
away  their  natural  slime,  and  induces  a  sort  of  white 
fungus  that  will  sometimes  prove  fatal.  And  you  must 
give  heed  to  your  steps  while  netting  the  fish,  lest  you 
tread  upon  a  spawning  bed,  which  can  be  recognized  by 
its  being  free  from  inud  and  leaves. 

The  fish,  when  they  have  determined  the  locality  of 
their  nest,  clear  away  the  sand  and  deposit  the  ova  upon 
the  clean  pebbles,  the  male  impregnating  them  at  the 
same  time.  They  will  eat  one  another's  spawn,  and  the 
male  is  ever  on  the  watch  to  guard  his  wife  from  such 
an  outrage.  After  the  eggs  have  all  been  exuded,  the 
parents  fan  the  sand  over,  covering  them  entirely  from 
sight.  This  is  an  important  matter,  which  the  artificial 
breeders  omit,  and  the  omission  of  which,  doubtless, 
leads  to  the  destruction  of  many  eggs  by  fungus  and 
sediment.  In  artificial  breeding,  I  should  strongly 
recommend  that  eggs  covered  with  clean  sand  should 
be  tested  in  comparison  with  those  uncovered.  A  num- 
ber of  the  eggs,  after  having  thus  been  deposited,  were 
removed  and  exposed  uncovered  to  the  water  :  they  died 
in  a  few  days  and  turned  white. 

The   eggs  when  first  exuded  are  a  brilliant  golden 


244:  PROPAGATION    OF    FISH. 

orange,  but  when  impregnated  change  to  a  pale,  trans- 
parent yellow,  with  a  small  black  spot  in  the  centre,  and 
on  losing  their  vitality  turn  white.  When  one  dies  in 
artificial  breeding,  it  communicates  disease  to  the  rest 
unless  it  is  removed,  but  in  the  natural  method  the  cov- 
ering of  sand  isolates  them  and  appears  to  prevent  this. 
The  water  must  now  steadily,  and,  if  not  sufficiently 
fresh  and  abundant,  should  be  allowed  to  fall  in  little 
cascades,  to  give  it  life.  As  the  operation  proceeds,  the 
change  in  the  egg  can  be  readily  seen  with  the  micro- 
scope, the  cells  of  which  it  is  composed  clustering  to  one 
side.  Any  one  curious  on  this  subject  is  referred  to  Dr. 
Garlick's  interesting  little  work  on  fish  culture. 

Every  old  fish  having  been  carefully  removed,  the 
breeding-pond  is  refilled  immediately,  and  the  young, 
awkward,  unwieldy  little  infants,  soon  make  their  appear- 
ance, and  after  their  thirty  days  of  self-sustenance  are  fed 
on  worms  cut  in  small  pieces,  on  grated  or  pounded  fish  or 
meat  cooked.  Before  Summer  is  over  they  are  a  few 
inches  long,  and  are  driven  down  into  their  new  home 
by  again  drawing  oif  the  water  of  the  breeding-pond 
into  the  latter,  and  frightening  them  into  it. 

The  number  raised  in  this  manner  is  perfectly  surpris- 
ing. From  about  one  hundred  breeders,  male  and  female, 
we  produced  over  seven  thousand  fish,  the  latter  fact  being 
determined  not  by  guesswork  but  by  actual  count.  An 
average  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  young,  in  spite 
of  frogs  and  accidents.  One  is  apt  to  under-estimate  in- 
stead of  exaggerating  the  number  by  guessing  ;  they  are 
so  small  and  lie  so  quiet  that  they  almost  escape  obser- 
vation. 


PROPAGATION    OF    FISH.  245 

The  foregoing  is  all  tliat  it  is  necessary  to  do  to  raise 
fish  in  abundance  ;  the  main  point  is  their  protection,  and 
this  is  effected  'by  not  allowing  them  to  enter  the  open 
water  till  their  second  or  even  third  season.  Nothing  is 
more  entertaining  than  to  feed  the  full-grown  fish,  and 
enjoy  their  breaking  at  sticks  and  weeds  in  their  eager- 
ness and  confusion  ;  this  they  will  often  do  one  after  ano- 
ther for  twenty  times.  Their  slow  motions  till  they  per- 
ceive the  prey,  and  then  the  ferocity  of  their  rushes, 
assimilates  them  to  the  dreaded  salt  water  shark.  With 
watchful  eye  they  move  cautiously  about,  but  woe  to 
the  fly  or  minnow  that  touches  the  surface  !  A  dozen 
rush  at  it  and  fling  themselves  into  the  air,  turn- 
ing suddenly  on  their  sides  by  a  flap  of  their  tails,  and 
disappear  as  instantly,  one  of  them  with  the  victim  in 
his  mouth. 

The  natural  method  of  propagating  fish,  though  abun- 
dantly successful,  and  so  simple  that  there  is  no  skill 
required  to  perform  it,  cannot  be  expected  to  equal  the 
results  effected  by  artificial  fecundation.  The  latter, 
however,  requires  considerable  care,  and  although  a  total 
failure  is  almost  an  impossibility,  neglect  will  result  in 
great  loss.  Each  trout  should  produce  several  hun- 
dred young,  and  if  a  business  is  intended  to  be  made  of 
it,  the  artificial  method  must  be  pursued. 

The  first  consideration,  therefore,  is  to  obtain  a  male 
and  female  fish,  fully  prepared  to  spawn.  This  is  deter- 
mined by  the  ease  with  which  the  eggs  and  milt  can  be 
pressed  from  them  ;  for  if  it  requires  more  than  the  light- 
est pressure,  the  spawn  will  not ,  be  mature,  and  the 
parent's  life  may  be  destroyed  if  the  operation  is  per- 


PROPAGATION  OF  FISH. 


sisted  in.  The  only  entire  failure  I  ever  heard  of  was 
effected  in  this  manner,  a  friend  succeeding  in  killing 
several  fish  without  raising  one. 

Where  there  can  be  made  a  convenient  stew-pond, 
with  a  gravelly  head-water  or  springy  sides,  there  is  no 
difficulty,  as  the  fish  may  be  taken  at  any  tinjg,  and  may 
be  kept  here  till  the  proper  season  arrives.  But  it  is 
said,  though  on  questionable  authority,  if  there  are  no 
appropriate  spawning-beds  at  hand,  the  nature  of  the  fish 
changes,  and  they  either  delay  or  cease  spawning  altoge- 
ther. The  roe  is  incased  in  a  skin,  the  rupture  of  which 
will  produce  death  till  the  time  of  maturity,  when  it  is 
absorbed  and  the  eggs  lie  free  in  the  abdomen  and  can 
be  readily  extruded. 

The  female  is  taken  in  the  hand  when  ready  —  and 
observe  that  fish  as  well  as  other  animals  will  be  gentle 
in  proportion  as  they  are  handled  gently  —  the  abdomen 
is  pressed  carefully  with  the  other  hand,  the  eggs  are 
forced  out  and  allowed  to  fall  into  a  basin  or  pail  of  pure 
fresh  spring  water.  When  all  the  spawn  is  deposited,  it 
is  as  well  to  agitate  it  with  a  feather,  and,  if  there  is 
extraneous  matter,  to  pour  off  and  renew  the  water. 
The  male  fish  is  then  taken  and  treated  in  the  same  way, 
the  milt  being  allowed  to  fall  into  the  same  basin  and 
brought  into  thorough  contact  with  the  eggs  by  the  use 
of  the  feather  again.  The  milt  of  one  male  will  answer 
for  the  spawn  of  several  females,  and  it  is  said  that  the 
milt  will  be  renewed  in  the  male  in  the  course  of  a  few 
days  ;  but  this,  not  corresponding  at  all  wth  the  female,  is 
at  least  doubtful.  The  reason  of  the  superabundance  of 
milt  over  the  roe  is  a  simple  provision  of  nature  to  make 


PROPAGATION  OF  FISH.  247 

up  for  the  quantity  that  must  inevitably  be  washed  away 
by  the  water,  Without  coming  in  contact  with  the  latter 
in  the  natural  process. 

The  impregnation  of  the  eggs  nray  be  ascertained  by 
their  alteration  in  color,  exchanging  the  orange  for  a 
yellow  tinge,  and  by  the  presence  of  the  black  spots,  as 
in  the  natural  process  ;  when  it  is  thoroughly  effected,  the 
water  is  poured  off  and  fresh  supplied.  Care  should  be 
taken  to  preserve  the  most  perfect  cleanliness ;  sediment 
is  very  destructive  to  the  vitality  of  the  embryos. 

There  are  several  modes  of  disposing  the  spawn, 
either  in  boxes,  half  full  of  white  pebbles,  with  sides 
perforated  with  holes,  or  in  wicker  baskets,  either  with 
or  without  pebbles.  It  is  nowhere  recommended  to 
cover  the  eggs  with  sand  ;  but  as  the  fish  naturally  pur- 
sues this  course,  and  as  great  injury  is  produced  by  sedi- 
ment and  delicate  aquatic  plants,  and  as  disease  is  com- 
municated from  one  to  another,  I  would  decidedly  advise 
that  it  should  be  given  a  trial,  and  the  comparative 
results  observed.  It  would  certainly  preserve  the  eggs 
from  many  of  their  principal  dangers  from  water-bugs 
and  insects,  from  dirt  and  infection,  and  can  do  no  injury 
to  the  young  fry,  which,  when  hatched,  readily  make 
their  way  through  it  to  the  pure  water. 

These  baskets  or  boxes  are  arranged  in  various  ways, 
according  to  convenience,  and  will  do  well  so  long  as  a 
pure  stream  of  spring  water,  about  32  to  '35  degrees  of 
temperature,  flows  through  them,  whether  directly  from 
the  spring  or  intermediately  through  one  another.  By 
allowing  a  few  inches'  fall  from  one  to  another,  the  water 

O  ' 

is  aerated  and  its  vivifying  powers  increased.     Care  must 


248  PROPAGATION  OF  FISH. 

be  taken  to  remove  the  sediment,  fungus  and  minute 
plants  as  they  form,  together  with  all  eggs  that  turn 
white  and  die.  The  boxes  should  be  covered  with  an 
open-work  cover,  either  of  lattice-work  or  wire,  to  keep 
out  leaves.  A  large  species  of  sieve,  of  galvanized  wire, 
can  be  obtained  at  the  stores,  and  answers  well  for  this 
purpose,  and  also  to  make  doors  to  the  breeding-boxes 
and  to  be  fitted  over  the  outlets  or  communications  be- 
tween the  breeding-ponds,  to  keep  the  fish  separate. 

The  water  should  be  four  inches  deep  in  the  boxes, 
and  its  temperature  affects  the  rapidity  of  development. 
A  thorough  examination  should  be  made  every  few  days, 
and  if  the  sediment  increases  beyond  control,  the  eggs 
may  be  bodily  removed  into  a  clean  box.  When  the 
young  appear  they  may  be  left  in  the  boxes  or  allowed 
to  escape  into  the  pond  at  large,  and  will  take  care  .of  ' 
themselves  if  there  be  no  larger  fish  around ;  in  the  lat- 
ter case  expect  to  see  them  no  more.  If  regularly  fed, 
large  numbers  can  be  kept  without  trouble  or  danger  in 
narrow  accommodations  until  they  attain  a  respectable 
size. 

Since  writing  the  above  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
examining  Fry's  excellent  and  thorough  little  work  on 
fish-breeding,  which,  though  principally  a  translation, 
exhausts  the  subject  in  its  present  stage,  and  contains  all 
the  requisite  instruction.  It  is  recommended  to  place 
the  fecundated  ova  on  willow  hurdles  suspended  in  boxes 
an  inch  or  thereabout  beneath  the  water,  so  that  they  could 
be  conveniently  removed  and  examined.  An  excellent 
substitute  would  probably  be,  what  can  be  found  univer- 
sally throughout  our  country,  a  champagne  basket.  It 


PROPAGATION  OF  FISH.  249 

is  asserted  that  the  same  water  may  be  used  over 'and 
over  again  if  filtered,  and  that  it  may  be  allowed  to 
pass  from  one  box  to  another  to  an  unlimited  extent. 
That  in  case  aquatic  vegetation  makes  its  appearance, 
the  eggs  can  be  transferred  to  a  clean  hurdle.  The 
reader  is  solemnly  warned  against  heaping  up  the  eggs 
upon  one  another,  a  fault  entirely  inexcusable  consider- 
ing the  small  space  they  occupy,  and  a  good  food  is  sug- 
gested in  the  fecundated  eggs  and  consequent  young  of 
other  species. 

The  transportation  of  fish  is  one  of  the  most  important- 
subjects  that  presents  itself,  and  with  full  grown  trout 
is  one  of  the  most  difficult  to  eifect.  But  the  impreg- 
nated eggs  can  be  carried  with  care  for  hundreds  or 
thousands  of  miles  with  little  loss  and  no  inconvenience. 
The  best  and  healthiest  looking  spawn  must  be  selected, 
and  if  it  can  be  left  for  a  few  days  to  mature  after 
impregnation,  so  much  the  better ;  it  may  be  deposited 
upon  sand  or  the  leaves  of  plants  found  in  the  waters  it 
frequents,  placed  in  a  wooden  or  tin  box,  and  covered 
with  similar  leaves  or  sand,  upon  which  another  layer  of 
eggs  and  leaves  or  sand  can  be  placed,  and  so  on  till  the 
box  is  full,  when  it  is  dipped  in  water  and  thoroughly 
saturated.  The  lid  is  put  on  to  prevent  any  motion  of 
the  contents,  and  it  can  be  carried  almost  any  distance 
if  it  is  occasionally  dipped  in  water  at  a  low  but  not  a 
freezing  temperature.  Upon  arriving  at  its  destination, 
the  contents  are  poured  out  carefully,  and  the  eggs 
hatched  in  the  ordinary  way. 

Young  trout  a  few  months  old  can  be  transported  with 
facility  in  water  cooled  with  ice.     For  travelling  by  rail- 

11* 


250  PKOPAGATION  OF  FISIL 

road,  the  most  convenient  plan  is  to  have  round  zinc  cans 
of  about  two  feet  and  a  half  diameter  and  three  feet  in 
depth,  with  the  top  projecting  over  on  the  inside,  pierced 
with  minute  holes,  and  carried  down  into  the  water  for 
a  sliort  distance,  leaving  a  place  in  the  centre  of  six 
inches  diameter,  where  the  ice  can  be  kept  without  dan- 
ger of  injuring  the  fish.  On  the  upper  edge  of  one  side, 
there  is  a  small  door  through  which  the  fish  can  be 
poured.  By  continually  renewing  the  ice,  yearlings  may 
be  transported  without  difficulty,  fifty  or  more  in  a  can. 
It  is  supposed  the  cold  reduces  their  respiration,  or  possi- 
bly the  dissolving  ice  communicates  air  to  the  water. 
Trout  of  half  a  pound  or  over  cannot  be  carried  more 
than  a  score  or  even  a  dozen  together,  or  they  will  die 
in  spite  of  the  greatest  care  in  a  few  hours. 

The  cans  have  handles  to  which  ropes  are  fastened  by 
broad  hooks,  and  may  be  suspended  from  the  beams  of 
the  baggage  cars,  where  they  sway  slowly  forward  and 
back,  and  do  not  shake  and  jolt  out  the  water  as  they 
otherwise  would. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark,  for  the  benefit  of  those 
desiring  to  stock  trout  ponds,  that  Mr.  Aaron  S.  Vail,  of 
Smithtown,  Long  Island,  has  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
artificial  culture  of  trout ;  that  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful and  is  willing  to  stock  ponds  with  any  number  of 
young  trout  at  reasonable  rates,  and  has  generally  quite 
a  number  of  both  young  and  old  fish  on  hand.  I  believe 
he  charges  for  young  trout  of  one  or  two  months  seven 
dollars  a  hundred,  but  for  larger  fish  of  one  year  or  more 
he  expects  five  or  six  dollars  a  dozen  ;  his  expenses  of 
travel  to  be  paid,  but  the  fish  to  be  charged  for  as  deliv- 


PROPAGATION  OF  FISH.  251 

ered  alive  and  healthy  at  the  place  of  destination.  For 
more  accurate  information  it  would  be  better  to  commu- 
nicate with  him  direct,  and  his  breeding  apparatus  is 
well  worth  a  visit. 

Besides  the  trout  and  salmon  the  only  other  fresh 
water  fish  worth  breeding  is  probably  the  black  bass. 
There  are  many  localities  where  the  water  is  too  warm 
or  quiet  for  trout,  which  demand  cold  and  rapid  currents 
flowing  from  fresh  springs.  The  black  bass  will  thrive 
in  almost  any  clear  pond  with,  a  pebbly  or  sandy  beach 
on  which  they  can  deposit  their  ova.  Like  all  the  perch 
family,  they  spawn  in  April  and  May,  and  hatch  in  a 
much  shorter  time  than  trout,  or  in  about  two  weeks ; 
they  build  their  nests  in  the  sand,  and  extrude  the  milt 
and  roe  by  pressing  upon  or  between  roots  and  stones, 
and  either  cover  or  leave  exposed  their  eggs.  They  may 
be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  trout,  but  do  not 
require  the  running  water  nor  one  half  the  care  and 
attention.  Their  increase  is  still  more  rapid. 

Undoubtedly  the  mascallonge  could  be  acclimated  and 
treated  in  the  same  manner,  and  the  striped  bass  might 
be  introduced  into  and  confined  to  the  fresh  water  with 
eminent  advantage. 

There  is  also  an  opportunity  for  novel  and  interesting 
experiments  in  the  crossing  of  various  species,  upon 
which  there  is  little  definitely  known  except  that  it  can 
be  done.  The  spawn  of  trout  has  been  impregnated  with 
the  milt  of  salmon  and  has  produced  young,  but  what 
the  young  were,  and  whether  they  were  capable  of 
breeding  among  themselves,  is  not  settled. 

Salmon  give  a  much  greater  quantity  of  eggs  than  the 


252  PROPAGATION  OF  FISH. 

trout,  estimated  at  over  10,000  in  a  medium  sized  fish. 
The  young,  called  usually  pinks,  remain  in  the  fresh 
water  one  year  after  hatching,  when  they  are  termed 
smolts,  and  descend  to  the  sea,  returning  in  a  few  months, 
generally  about  the  middle  of  June,  weighing  from  one 
to  ten  pounds,  and  are  then  called  grilse.  After  they 
have  spawned  as  grilse  and  again  returned  to  the  sea, 
they  are  termed  salmon.  They  grow  with  astonishing 
rapidity  in  salt  water,  a  large  fish  doubling  his  weight 
in  a  little  over  a  month,  until  a  certain  size  is  attained, 
when  their  growth  almost  ceases.  Smolts  rise  readily  at 
the  fly,  and  may  be  mistaken  for  trout,  which  they  some- 
what resemble.  I  have  taken  great  numbers  of  them 
when  fishing  for  tront  in  Canada,  and  was  at  first  some- 
what at  a  loss  to  tell  what  they  were.  Of  course  I 
relieved  them  carefully  of  the  hook,  and  returned  them 
to  their  native  element. 

Salmon  spawn  in  pools,  on  rough,  gravelly  beds,  com- 
posed of  small  stones  about  the  size  of  a  walnut,  and  ac- 
cording to  some  accounts,  require  several  days  to  deposit 
all  the.  roe  and  milt.  They  should  be  taken  by  the  net 
when  engaged  in  this  operation,  and  treated  in  the  same 
manner  as  trout,  or  placed  in  a  tub  where  they  can  be  held 
by  head  and  tail,  and  the  spawn  expressed  without 
injury.  This  course  may  be  pursued  with  all  fish  whose 
weight  would  render  them  unmanageable  out  of  water, 
but  will  not  generally  be  found  necessary.  They  spawn 
in  November  or  December,  hatch  in  March  or  April,  and 
next  March  or  April  descend  to  the  ocean.  In  other 
particulars  they  do  not  differ  materially  from  trout,  and 
the  rules  for  the  propagation  of  the  latter  will  apply 


PROPAGATION  OF  FISH.  253 

equally  well  to  them.  They  remain  in  the  fresh  water 
during  the  Winter,  descend  to  the  sea  early  in  the  Spring, 
and  return  in  June.  They  invariably  return  to  the  river 
where  they  have  bred,  and  in  the  course  of  their  ascent 
will  overcome  powerful  rapids  and  considerable  falls. 
For  a  more  full  account  of  their  habits,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  appropriate  title. 


254 


FLIES. 


FLIES  AND  KNOTS.  255 


CHAPTEE   XXVII. 

FLIES   AND    KNOTS. 

IT  is  generally  considered  that  fly-making  cannot  be 
taught  bj  written  instruction,  but  this  depends  some- 
what on  the  intelligence  of  the  scholar,  who  must  not 
undertake  to  conceive  the  result  before  he  has  waxed  his 
thread,  but  should  be  content  to  follow  the  directions 
word  by  word.  At  all  events  there  is  something  that 
the  experienced,  and  an  immense  deal  that  the  partially 
instructed  beginner  may  add  to  his  store  of  knowledge, 
and  if  the  following  directions  will  not  make  a  novice 
perfect,  they  may  aid  him  when  he  has  had  a  few  per- 
sonal lessons.  To  tie  a  fly,  the  gut  should  be  singed  in  a 
candle  or  bitten  at  one  end,  and  the  hook  and  thread 
waxed  to  insure  the  hook's  not  coming  off,  which,  when 
a  fine  fish  has  it  in  his  mouth,  is  a  heart-rending  casualty. 
Take  a  few  turns  with  the  thread  on  the  shank  of  the 
bare  hook,  nearly  to  the  head,  then  applying  the  gut, 
whip  it  firmly  on  by  working  back  to  the  bend  ;  under 
the  last  turns  at  the  bend  insert  whisks  for  the  tail  dub- 
bing, floss  or  herl  for  the  body,  and  tinsel  if  desired. 
The  floss,  silk  and  dubbing  are  generally  spun  or  twisted 
in  with  the  thread,  and  then  wound  back  toward  the 
shoulder,  but  they  may  be  wound  on  before,  with,  or 
after  the  thread.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  turns 


256  FLIES  AND  KNOTS. 

at  the  bend  be  firm,  and  when  the  material  is  carried 
back,  the  body  is  finished  with  a  couple  of  turns  of  the 
silk,  a  hackle  is  then  introduced  under  them  and  firmly 
ly  secured.  "Wind  the  hackle  round  the  hook  at  the 
place  where  it  is  inserted,  and  when  it  is  sufficiently 
thick,  and  the  fibres  which  constitute  the  legs  stand  out 
well,  tie  it  down.  Prepare  your  wings  by  stripping  oft1 
the  requisite  number  of  fibres,  and  tie  them  on,  either 
single  or  divided,  and  finish  off.  To  make  a  buzz-fly, 
that  is,  one  with  the  hackles  the  whole  length  of  the 
body  instead  of  only  at  the  shoulder,  insert  a  hackle  at 
the  bend  at  the  same  time  with  the  body  and  tail,  and 
twist  it  round  the  body  after  that  is  put  on,  and  fasten  it 
at  the  shoulder.  The  wings  are  sometimes  laid  on  point- 
ing up  the  shank,  and  afterward  bent  down  and  brought 
in  their  places.  And  thus,  if  any  one  desires,  he  may 
make  a  fly. 

Few  people  in  this  stage  of  civilization  dress  their  own 
trout  flies,  and  although  skill  in  the  art  will  enable  you 
to  make  a  better  selection  in  your  purchases,  it  is  rarely 
useful  at  the  riverside.  The  better  plan  is  to  have  a  great 
variety,  keep  them  safe  from  moths  by  the  use  of  a  linen 
bag,  and  fish  often  enough  to  prevent  the  gut's  decaying. 
I  have  flies  that  have  been  in  my  possession  for  fifteen 
years,  and  yet  seem  to  be  as  good  as  ever.  You  would 
require  a  knapsack  to  keep  all  the  articles  requisite  to 
dress  every  fly,  and  would  waste  half  your  day  in  the 
operation.  Nor  is  it  yet  settled  that  by  imitating  the 
natural  insect  you  gain  any  advantage  ;  one  half  the  most 
skillful  fishermen  assert  that  the  fly,  as  for  instance,  the 
scarlet  ibis,  need  resemble  nothing  on  earth,  or  in  the 


FLIES    AND    KNOTS.  257 

waters  under  the  earth,  and  that  the  sharp-sighted  fish  are 
never  deceived  by  thinking  ours  the  natural  insect,  but 
take  him  for  some  new  and  undescribed  species.  As  for 
myself,  to  use  the  quaint  language  of  the  editor  of  the 
"  Knickerbocker,"  "  sometimes  I  think  so,  and  then  again 
I  don't,  but  mostly  1  do."  On  certain  occasions  it  would 
seem  that  the  closer  the  imitation  the  better,  on  others  the 
less  the  similarity  the  greater  the  success.  Upon  this 
question  my  friends  stand  like  the  hackle  on  a  well- 
dressed  fly,  "  every  which  way."  At  any  rate,  it  is  no 
time  to  be  dubbing  when  you  ought  to  be  fishing,  and 
if  you  cast  a  long  line  and  a  light  fly  and  the  fish  will 
not  rise,  you  may  be  sure  they  will  not. 

The  various  flies  that  appear  upon  the  surface  of  the 
numerous  and  varying  waters  of  our  country,  from  the 
borders  of  Mexico  to  the  confines  of  Labrador,  would  fur- 
nish the  subject  for  an  instructive  and  interesting  work. 

The  natural  flies,  whether  hatched  from  the  caddis  at 
the  bottom  of  the  streams,  or  from  the  burrows  in  the 
ground,  or  the  knots  on  the  limbs,  or  the  cocoons  amid 
the  leaves  of  trees,  are  more  numerous  than  those  of  any 
European  country.  As  a  class,  they  are  larger,  the 
ephemerae  especially,  and  although  often  found  to  be 
similar  in  general  appearance,  furnish  many  species 
unknown  there.  They  have  never  been  properly  de- 
scribed and  classified,  and  no  satisfactory  work  has  been 
written,  at  all  thorough  and  reliable,  in  which  an  attempt 
is  made  to  record  their  nature  and  habits. 

Many  of  them  do  not  return  every  year,  but  seem  to 
require  several  seasons  to  mature,  and  the  earliest  fly  of 
one  season  may  *  not  be  that  of  another.  Every  observant 


258  FLIES  AND  KNOTS. 

fisherman  has  noticed  flies  at  one  time  that  he  may  not 
see  again  for  a  long  period,  and  has  found  his  imitations 
of  them  perfectly  useless. 

The  first  tree  that  puts  forth  leaves  in  the  spring  is  the 
maple,  and  its  buds  are  a  bright  scarlet.  As  they  drop 
into  and  are  swept  along  the  surface  of  the  water  by  the 
wind,  the  fish  seize  them,  no  doubt  either  decoyed  by 
their  appearance  or  attracted  by  insects  that  may  be  con- 
cealed upon  or  within  them.  The  scarlet  ibis  resembles 
these  buds  nearer  than  any  other  known  thing,  and  is 
probably  mistaken  by  the  fish  for  them. 

"When  commencing  this  work,  it  had  been  my  inten- 
tion .not  only  to  describe  the  artificial  flies  in  general 
request,  but  to  give  the  habits,  periods  and  names  of  the 
natural  ones  of  which  they  were  imitations,  without 
which  latter  information  the  former  would  have  been  far 
from  complete.  But  the  obstacles  in  my  way  were  so 
numerous,  the  confusion  existing  as  to  names,  localities, 
and  times  of  appearance  was  so  utter,  the  difficulty  of 
finding  any  satisfactory  work  on  the  natural  insects  so 
great,  that  I  was  almost  in  despair ;  on  the  point,  how- 
ever, of  making  the  attempt,  rash  as  it  appeared,  I  was 
informed  that  the  matter  had  been  undertaken  by  a  friend 
of  mine,  who  is  every  way  equal  to  the  task.  Although 
much  relieved,  there  wras  still  something  to  be  done  to 
give  a  general  idea  of  the  flies  in  use  with  us.  On  this 
subject,  the  only  work  existing  of  any  value  is  the  sup- 
plement to  Frank  Forester's  "  Fish  and  Fishing,"  written 
by  a  gentleman  who  is  a  thorough  sportsman,  and  along- 
side of  whom  I  have  often  had  the  pleasure  of  casting 
the  fly.  The  directions  in  the  body  of  that  work  itself, 


FLIES  AND  KNOTS.  259 

like  many  other  parts  of  it,  are  copied  from  the  English 
writers,  and  in  our  waters  are  utterly  valueless.  The 
author,  although  a  splendid  sportsman,  was  not  as  an 
angler  acquainted  with  our  trout  streams  and  ponds,  and 
the  contributor  of  the  supplement  judged  rather  too 
exclusively  from  his  experience  on  Long  Island. 

The  first  and  most  striking  difference  to  be  observed 
between  the  systems'  of  the  two  countries  is  in  the  com- 
parative size  of  the  flies,  those  of  America,  following  the 
natural  insect,  being  larger,  and,  probably  for  a  similar 
reason,  gaudier.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  most 
gaudy  of  all,  the  scarlet  ibis,  is  prominently  successful 
alone  in  the  streams  of  Long  Island  and  of  the  British 
Provinces.  As  many  of  the  Long  Island  trout  yearly 
migrate  to  the  sea,  in  which  peculiarity  they  resemble 
the  fish  of  the  latter  place,  it  may  be  that  this  fly  is  only 
a  favorite  with  sea-going  fish.  A  little  tinsel  wound 
round  the  body  is  supposed  to  improve  its  efficiency,  as 
some  fishermen  suggest  from  a  resemblance  to  the  prin- 
cipal "Winter  food  of  the  trout,  the  salt  water  minnow. 

The  earliest  fly  on  the  Long  Island  ponds  is  a  dark 
water  fly,  with  a  brownish  red  body  and  legs,  and  black, 
filmy,  transparent  wings.  It  is  rather  large,  is  wafted 
along  upon  and  occasionally  rises  from  the  water,  and 
never  appears  in  any  considerable  numbers.  It  is  usually 
represented  by  the  English  or  female  cow-dung,  which, 
although  not  similar  in  coloring,  presents  somewhat  the 
same  general  appearance.  The  wings,  being  transparent, 
should  not  be  imitated  with  a  black  feather,  although  I 
have  had  great  success  when  these  flies  were  on  the  water 
with  a  fly  that  had  black  wings  and  a  claret  body  and 


260  FLIES  AND  KNOTS. 

legs.     The  orange  dun,  with  a  body  tinged  with  brown, 
would  be  a  good  imitation. 

The  next  natural  fly,  which  is  smaller  than  the  last,  is 
of  a  greenish  yellow,  and  is  also  caricatured  by  the  cow- 
dung.  But  it  is  decidedly  recommended  to  make  a  more 
faithful  copy,  which  the  writer  has  done  with  eminent 
success.  In  speaking  of  this  matter,  it  is  important  to 
add  that  the  midges,  such  as  the  black  gnat  and  others, 
are  out  earlier,  and  it  is  to  the  larger  flies  alone  that 
reference  is  made.  The  earliest  of  the  species  mentioned 
appears  in  ordinary  seasons  about  the  first  of  March,  and 
the  next  about  a  week  later.  At  this  period,  and  at  all 
periods,  of  a  bright  day  a  large  black  gnat  with  black 
hackle,  black  or  dark  blue  body,  silver  tinsel  at  the  tail, 
and  dark  wings,  is  usually  successful. 

Shortly  after  the  greenish  fly,  come  many  others,- 
appearing  almost  together,  and  among  them  the  cow- 
dung  and  the  yellow  sally,  the  latter  occasionally  fairly 
covering  the  water.  About  this  time  the  professor  an 
swers  well,  although  I  have  never  discovered  its  proto- 
type, if  it  has  any,  and  shortly  afterward  an  unimitated 
brown  fly,  together  with  the  blue  blow  and  cinnamon,  and 
in  warm  weather  innumerable  others.  In  the  latter  part 
of  April  and  early  part  of  May,  the  bushes  and  streams 
are  alive  with  the  gay  little  beauties,  of  every  color,  size 
and  shape,  and  the  fish  make  them  their  principal  food. 
But  the  waters  are  growing  clear,  the  deception  is  becom- 
ing apparent  to  the  fish's  eye,  and  the  insects,  though  in 
reality  larger,  must  have  more  delicate  substitutes.  At 
such  times  a  small  red  bodied  fly,  with  dun  wings,  has 
proved  extremely  killing,  and  although  large,  white, 


FLIES  AND  KNOTS.  261 

gelatinous  eph emerge  swim  upon  the  water,  the  midges 
are  on  quiet  days  the  most  successful ;  and  when  the  sky 
is  bright,  subdued  colors  are  in  principal  demand. 

In  June  there  are  prominent,  among  many  others, 
the  black  fly,  with  body,  wings,  legs  and  antennas  all  of 
the  same  sable  hue,  busy  the  entire  day  dancing  over  the 
water  a  veritable  dance  of  death,  for  it  is  often  terminat- 
ed by  the  fatal  rush  of  the  watchful  trout ;  a  dun  fly, 
with  greyish  dun  mottled  wings,  grey  legs,  and  light 
green  body ;  another  fly  with  similar  wings,  but  red 
legs,  and  a  rich  brown  body — none  of  these  having  any 
whisks  in  their  tails  ;  another  beautiful  and  delicate  yel- 
low fly,  that  appears  generally  in  the  morning  and  eve- 
ning, and  flies  heavily  and  slowly  from  place  to  place, 
till  it  falls  suddenly,  and,  is  forever  submerged  in  the 
cruel  waters.  Its  legs,  body  and  wings  are  yellow,  the 
latter  being  the  palest,  and  it  has  two  short  whisks  and 
antennae  of  the  same  color.  All  the  foregoing  have  four 
wings,  in  the  black  and  yellow  varieties  strongly  reticu- 
lated, and  all' but  the  last  swim  well  under  water.  Tow- 
ard night  a  frail  whitish  fly  makes  its  appearance  still 
more  fragile  than  its  yellow  compeer ;  it  has  two  wings, 
a  thick  body  and  long  whisks.  The  eyes  of  the  yellow 
and  white  fly  are  black  spots,  and  although  I  never  have 
done  much  with  a  white  fly,  a  small  yellowish  drake  was 
successful  when  the  yellow  flies  were  abundant.  A  bet- 
ter imitation  however  could  be  made  of  pure  yellow. 

On  one  occasion  I  was  struck  with  the  fact  that 
although  I  did  not  know  these  insects  were  on  the  water, 
my  only  successful  flies  were  a  yellowish  fly,  a  green- 
bodied,  dun-winged  fly,  and  a  similar  fly  with  a  brown 


262  FLIES  AND  KNOTS. 

body,  and  I  hit  on  them  accidentally  after  trying  a  great 
variety. 

Hackles,  in  our  Long  Island  ponds,  are,  by  universal 
testimony,  a  failure,  and  the  palmers  worthless;  and 
throughout  the  breadth  and  length  of  our  country,  the 
winged  flies  are  vastly  preferable.  The  hackles  and 
palmers  are  intended  to  represent  the  caterpillars,  which 
our  fish  very  sensibly  ignore  alongside  of  the  innumer- 
able beautiful,  delicate  and  gaudy  flies,  and  which  under 
no  circumstances  are  found  except  in  the  fresh-water 
brooks.  Through  all  the  early  Spring,  the  stomachs 
of  the  trout  will  be  found  filled  with  the  shells  of  the 
caddis,  and  these,  if  they  could  be  obtained,  would 
doubtless  be  a  killing  bait.  Fortunately  they  cannot  be, 
and  are  not  to  my  knowledge  used  here  at  all. 

In  our  mountain  streams  the  fish  are  generally 
extremely  numerous,  though  small,  and  will  eagerly 
seize  any  fly  presented  to  them,  vying  with  one  another 
to  be  first.  The  following  is  a  good  assortment,  and  will, 
in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  be  sufficient  for 
all  waters :  The  alder-fly,  English  partridge  hackle, 
hackles  of  all  colors,  red  and  black  ants,  the  devil-fly 
with  a  yelfow  body,  the  tail  of  one  red  and  one  black 
whisk,  black  hackles  and  red  and  black  wings,  dark 
mackerel,  red  spinner,  English  blue  jay,  fern-fly,  orange 
dun,  the  camlets  of  various  colors,  grey,  dun  and  black 
midges,  the  coachman,  the  stone-fly,  the  May-flies, 
millers  for  night-work,  the  sand-fly,  the  various  other 
duns,  the  turkey  brown,  and  a  large  light  grey  fly. 

As  each  maker  employs  different  colors  and  feathers 
for  the  same  fly,  these  descriptions  are  rather  indefinite  ; 


FLIES  AND  KNOTS.  263 

but  by  taking  a  number  of  various  shades,  you  can  rea- 
dily select  the  most  effective.  The  well-known  flies  should 
be  dressed  after  Ronalds  as  far  as  practicable.  It  is  to 
be  regretted  that  there  is  not  more  uniformity  and  pride 
in,  or  practical  acquaintance  with,  the  subject  among  our 
principal  tackle-makers.  With  the  English  makers  it 
has  always  been  an  especial  care  that  their  flies  should 
be  dressed  well  and  with  uniformity ;  but  here,  anything 
that  can  be  palmed  off  on  an  ignorant  or  indulgent  pub- 
lic, or  a  barbarous  country  trade,  is  all  that  is  desired. 
It  is  better  always  to  send  a  pattern,  with  instructions  to 
copy  it  precisely,  and  that  no  originality  of  variation 
will  be  permitted.  Then,  and  then  only,  can  you  obtain 
what  you  wish.  So  much  for  trout-flies. 

To  make  a  salmon-fly,  the  following  additional  direc- 
tions, most  of  which  apply  equally  to  carefully  made 
trout-flies,  will  be  found  convenient.  Tie  on  the  gut  as 
before  directed;  upon  reaching  the  bend,  fasten  the 
spring  pliers  on  to  the  thread,  and  do  not  take  them  off 
till  the  fly  is  finished.  Take  two  turns  with  the  silk  over 
a  strip  of  tinsel,  pass  the  latter  several  times  round  the 
hook  to  form  the  tag,  fasten  it  with  the  silk  and  cut  it 
off;  introduce  the  floss  for  the  tip,  take  several  turns 
evenly,  tie  it  down  and  cut  off  the  end ;  introduce  the 
tail  and  then  a  piece  of  herl,  wind  the  herl  at  the  root 
of  the  tail  and  fasten  it ;  take  in  a  new  piece  of  tinsel 
and  a  hackle  by  rubbing  back  all  the  fibres  but  a  few  at 
the  point ;  leave  both  pointing  from  the  head.  Take  a 
small  piece  of  mohair  between  your  fingers,  break  it  over 
and  over  again  into  small  pieces,  lengthen  it  out  and  twist 
it  round  the  silk  toward  the  left,  as  otherwise  it  will 


264:  FLIES  AND  KNOTS. 

unlay  in  winding;  wind  the  silk  and  mohair  together 
round  the  shank  to  the  shoulder,  leave  a  space  of  bare 
hook  sufficient  for  the  wings.  Wind  in  loose  coils 
first  the  tinsel  and  then  the  hackle,  and  fasten  both  at 
the  shoulder.  Strip  two  wings  from  feathers  that  have 
been  taken  from  the  opposite  sides  of  the  bird,  place 
them  together,  hold  them  firmly  on  the  hook  with  the 
left  forefinger  and  thumb,  and  fasten  them  securely. 
Cut  off  the  ends,  insert  a  piece  of  herl,  wind  it  over  the 
head  and  tie  it  down.  Lay  the  end  of  the  silk  back 
down  the  shank,  and  take  three  turns  with  the  other 
part  over  silk,  hook  and  gut ;  pass  the  gut  end  through 
the  loop  three  times  and  draw  the  silk  tight.  Two  turns 
of  silk  should  hold  the  different  parts  during  the  entire 
operation,  and  a  couple  of  half  hitches  under  the  wings 
at  the  shoulders  are  sometimes  used  to  fasten  off.  The 
feathers  should  be  mated  to  make  neat  wings,  and  if 
they  are  laid  right  side  out  they  will  close  round  the 
hook ;  if  otherwise,  they  will  stand  out.  Do  not  fail  to 
varnish  at  the  head  with  wood  varnish,  or  some  other 
kind  that  will  dry  rapidly.  The  hackle  may  be  intro- 
duced at  the  shoulder.  "Where  herl  or  floss  is  used  for 
the  body,  it  is  wound  on  separately  from  the  tying  silk, 
which  is  sometimes  passed  in  loose  coils  afterward.  A 
second  hackle  of  a  different  color,  or  a  feather  wound 
like  a  hackle,  may  be  introduced  after  the  first,  or  after 
the  wings  and  before  the  head  is  finished,  and  is  called 
the  legs.  The  wings  must  be  tied  above  the  dubbing  on 
the  hook,  or  they  are  liable  to  turn,  especially  where 
floss  silk  is  used  for  the  body. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  Canadian  salmon  flies,  copied 


FLIES  AND  KNOTS.  265 

from  the  work  on  Salmon  Fishing  in  the  Provinces, 
edited  by  Colonel  Alexander,  supposed  to  be  by  Dr. 
Adamson,  with  two  of  my  own  added ;  the  latter  having 
been  furnished  by  a  friend  of  extended  experience,  are 
warranted  excellent : 

No.  1.  LOUISE. — An  extremely  beautiful  fly,  having 
wings  composed  of  the  golden  pheasant's  top-knot,  breast 
feather  and  tail,  with  sprigs  from  the  green  parrot,  blue 
macaw  and  kingfisher ;  the  body  is  of  fiery  brown  mo- 
hair, with  gold  twist ;  the  head  of  orange  mohair ;  the 
tail,  a  single  feather  from  the  golden  pheasant's  top-knot ; 
reddish-brown  hackle  and  jay  legs. 

No.  2.  EDWIN. — A  much  simpler  fly  and  often  equally 
efficacious  among  the  fins,  the  wings  being  composed  of 
the  golden  pheasant's  tail  feather  with  a  dash  of  yellow 
macaw ;  the  body,  yellow  mohair ;  ribs,  of  black  silk ; 
head,  black  mohair;  tail,  golden  pheasant's  top-knot; 
hackle,  yellow ;  and  scarlet  silk  tip. 

No.  3.  FORSYTH. — Wings  of  the  yellow  macaw,  with  a 
slight  dash  of  mallard  wings  at  each  side ;  yellow  mohair 
body,  with  black  ribs ;  head,  black ;  tail,  golden  phea- 
sant's top-knot ;  hackle,  yellow,  with  light  blue  silk  tip. 

No.  4.  STEPHENS. — Wings  of  golden  pheasant's  breast 
feather,  with  slight  mixture  of  mallard ;  body  of  reddish 
brick-colored  silk,  gold  twist ;  head,  black  ostrich ;  tail, 
golden  pheasant's  top-knot;  hackle,  red,  to  match  the 
body ;  tip,  blue  silk. 

No.  5.  Ross. — Wings  of  mallard  and  peacock's  herl ; 
body,  cinnamon-colored  silk,  gold  twist;  no  head;  tail, 
green  parrot ;  red  and  black  hackles  and  black  tip. 

No.  6.  THE  PARSON. — This  is  a  beautiful  and  efficient 
12 


266  FLIES  AND  KNOTS. 

fly.  The  wings  are  mixed,  and  very  similar  to  those  of 
No.  1,  but  have  a  slight  mixture  of  wood  duck  in  them  ; 
the  body  is  of  very  dark  claret  silk,  with  gold  twist ; 
head,  black  ostrich;  tail,  golden  pheasant's  top-knot; 
hackle,  dark  claret ;  legs,  blue,  with  a  tip  of  yellow  and 
gold. 

No.  T.  STBACHAN. — Mixed  wings,  chiefly  of  golden 
pheasant's  tail,  yellow  macaw  and  jay's  wing ;  body  of 
crimson  silk  with  gold  twist ;  head,  black  ostrich ;  tail, 
golden  pheasant ;  black  hackle,  with  jay's  wing  legs  ;  tip, 
yellow  and  gold. 

No.  8.  LANGEVIN. — Wings,  body,  tail,  hackle,  legs,  tip 
all  yellow,  made  of  the  dyed  feathers  of  the  white  goose ; 
the  head  of  black  ostrich,  and  the  twist  of  black  silk. 

No.  9.  WHITCHEE. — Mixed  wings,  of  mallard  and 
hooded  merganser,  the  latter  being  like  the  teal  wing, 
only  more  of  a  yellowish  green,  or  the  tail  of  the  golden 
pheasant  may  be  used ;  head,  black  ostrich  herl ;  black 
hackle  and  black  mohair  body,  with  a  thin  rib  of  silver ; 
tip,  yellow  silk  ;  and  tail  from  the  top-knot  of  the  golden 
pheasant. 

No.  10.  GREY  FLY. — Mixed  wings,  of  mallard,  tur- 
key, golden  pheasant's  neck  and  top-knot,  and  sprigs  of 
blue  macaw  ;  head  of  black  ostrich  heel ;  legs,  carmine ; 
grey  hackle ;  body  of  a  grey  mohair,  with  silver  ribs,  and 
tip  of  silver  and  deep  orange  silk ;  tail,  mixed  grey  mal- 
lard and  tail  of  the  golden  pheasant. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  foregoing  are  not  imita- 
tions of  any  natural  insect,  but  merely  fanciful  combina- 
tions of  beautiful  colors.  The  more  harmonious  the  tints 
the  finer  the  effect.  Some  of  them  are  gay  flies,  gaudier 


FLIES    AND    KNOTS.  267 

than  I  should  recommend ;  modest  colors  suit  the  sal- 
mon as  they  do  the  ladies  of  our  country.  For  the  rivers 
of  New  Brunswick  more  particularly,  I  would  add  the 
following,  requesting  the  reader  to  bear  in  mind  that 
larger  and  more  brilliant  flies  are  permitted  among  the 
rougher  waters  and  heavier  fish  of  the  Canadas. 

No.  11.  NICHOLSON. — "Wings  mallard  with  sprigs  of 
blue  macaw ;  body,  blood-red  mohair,  head  of  black 
ostrich  herl ;  hackles,  one  blood  red  and  one  dark  blue 
wound  on  together ;  gold  ribs  and  tip  ;  tail,  mallard  and 
golden  pheasant  neck.  This  is  one  of  the  best  flies  ever 
cast  on  the  Miramichi  or  Nipisiquit,  and  is  simple  and 
inexpensive. 

No.  12.  CHAMBERLAIN. — Turkey  wing,  the  lighter  and 
darker  fibres  mixed,  or  turkey  and  mallard  ;  head,  black 
ostrich  herl ;  orange  mohair  body  and  hackle,  yellow 
legs,  silver  or  gold  ribs  and  tip  and  black  silk  twist ;  tail 
of  golden  pheasant  top-knot. 

No  13.  DAKLING. — Wings  of  turkey  and  golden  phea- 
sant neck  feather  and  sprigs  of  blue  macaw  ;  head,  black 
ostrich  ;  hackles,  black  along  the  stem,  but  with  reddish 
ends ;  tip,  orange  silk ;  tail,  golden  pheasant  top-knot ; 
thin  gold  ribs  and  tag  and  black  mohair  body. 

No.  14.  MAJOK. — Wings  of  mallard  and  turkey  with 
sprigs  of  blue  macaw ;  head;  claret  herl ;  light  red 
hackle,  and  orange  legs  ;  body,  deep  purple  mohair ;  tip, 
blue  silk  :  tail,  golden  pheasant  neck  feathers  ;  ribs  and 
tag  gold  tinsel. 

No.  15.  CAPTAIN. — Wings  of  turkey  and  golden  phea- 
sant tail  and  neck  feathers  and  sprigs  of  blue  macaw ; 
head,  claret  herl ;  red  hackle  ;  body,  claret  mohair ;  tip. 


268  PLIES   AND    KNOTS. 

orange  silk ;  silver  tag,  gold  ribs,  and  tail  of  golden 
pheasant  top-knot. 

No.  16.  CARIBOO. — Wings  of  turkey  and  mallard  with 
sprigs  of  macaw,  and  a  few  fibres  from  the  golden  phea- 
sant's neck  ;  head  of  black  ostrich  herl ;  claret  legs ; 
grey  hackle  ;  body  of  grey  cariboo  hair  or  mohair ;  lower 
part  of  tip  golden  yellow  silk,  and  tipper  part  black  silk  ; 
tail,  golden  pheasant  top-knot,  and  gold  tag.  This  fly, 
with  various  modifications,  is  extensively  used  by  the 
resident  fishermen  of  Fredericton. 

"No.  17.  EMMET. — ~No  head  ;  wings  of  black  and  golden 
pheasant  neck  feather  with  sprigs  of  macaw  ;  body,  black 
mohair ;  black  hackle ;  gold  tip  and  twist ;  a  turn  of 
black  herl  taken  just  above  the  tail,  which  is  golden 
pheasant  crest. 

]STo.  18.  LILLIE. — Wings  and  tail  dark  grey  turkey ; 
body,  mohair  of  the  same  dull  color ;  yellow  silk  tip ; 
red  hackle,  and  no  head.  This  is  almost  identical  with 
the  stone  fly,  and  approximates  in  color  to  the  natural 
fly,  and  is  generally  dressed  on  a  small  hook. 

There  is  no  limit  to  the  list  of  salmon  flies  that  might 
be  given ;  artistic  beauty  is  a  great  point  to  be  gained, 
but  further  than  that  nothing  is  positively  ascertained 
on  the  subject.  I  was  once  visiting  a  well  known  salmon 
river  with  fifty  dozen  flies  loaned  to  me  by  an  excellent 
angler  who  was  one  of  the  oldest  habitues  of  the  stream. 
Another  excellent  fisherman  looked  over  my  books  with 
an  unapproving  air,  and  after  my  return  told  me  that 
he  was  surprised  I  had  taken  any  fish  at  all,  for  my  flies 
were  totally  unsuited  to  the  river.  It  is,  however,  gene- 
rally conceded  that  different  waters  require  different 


FLIES    AND    KNOTS.  209 

flies,  and  those  in  vogue  in  Canada  are  much  gayer  than 
those  of  New  Brunswick.  In  Great  Britain  it  was  once  the 
custom,  as  it  still  is  in  Wales,  to  use  sombre  colors ;  in 
England  and  Ireland  the  gayest  are  now  the  rage ;  per- 
haps it  will  be  the  same  here,  and  in  the  end  we  may 
find  that  handsome,  gaudy  feathers  answer  best. 

The  turkey  wing  is  of  various  colors,  but  where  no 
other  specific  direction  is  given,  the  common  mixture  of 
black  and  brown  is  intended.  Some  sportsmen  pretend 
to  assimilate  their  flies  to  the  sand-lance,  others  to  the 
shrimp  ;  as  the  salmon  obtain  neither  in  fresh  water, 
there  is  little  to  choose  between  the  plans. 

As  will  be  seen,  therefore,  from  the  foregoing,  salmon 
flies  are  much  more  complicated  than  trout  flies,  and 
require  more  skill  in  their  manufacture.  The  wings  are 
ordinarily  made  of  numerous  fibres,  frequently  of  dis- 
tinct feathers,  which  are  fastened  separately  upon  one 
another,  and  usually  called  toppings.  The  hook  is  often 
first  tied  securely  with  thick  silk  and  then  varnished, 
while  a  small  loop  instead  of  a  length  of  gut  is  used. 
This  is  allowed  to  "dry,  and  finer  silk,  usually  the  color 
of  the  intended  fly,  is  employed  to  tie  the  feathers. 
Occasional  fastenings  may  be  made  by  taking  a  hitch 
over  the  whole,  and  varnish  is  applied,  especially  at  the 
head  and  tail.  After  the  hook  is  tied  on,  the  silk  is  made 
fast  at  the  bend,  where  the  tinsel,  the  whisks,  the  body 
and  the  hackle  are  inserted  ;  the  latter  may,  however,  be 
introduced  after  several  turns  have  been  taken  with  the 
body,  and  the  body  may  be  divided  into  sections  of 
various  colors,  in  a  manner  that  the  least  practice  will 
render  easy. 


270  FLIES    AND    KNOTS. 

It  is  no  small  matter  to  give  a  list  of  the  requisite  fly- 
making  materials,  but  the  following  are  a  few  of  the 
most  important : 

Silk  of  various  colors,  wax,  nippers,  scissors,  a  bench 
vice,  picker,  spring  pliers,  varnish,  hooks  and  gut,  tinsel 
of  gold  and  silver,  twisted  and  plain ;  hackles  of  all 
colors,  feathers  of  the  mallard,  teal,  woodcock,  golden, 
silver  and  argus  pheasants,  turkey,  macaws,  curlew, 
ruffed  grouse,  ibis,  blue-jay,  black-bird,  fresh  water  rail, 
guinea  fowl,  common  chicken,  and  any  and  all  other 
birds  that  may  come  in  the  angler's  way ;  dubbings  of 
mohair,  pig's  hair,  wool,  seal's  fur,  rat's,  mole's  and  squir- 
rel's fur ;  floss  silk  of  all  colors,  and  peacock's  and 
ostrich  herl.  Dyed  feathers  had  better  be  purchased  of 
the  tackle  makers,  and  should  include  blue,  purple, 
orange,  yellow,  brown,  green,  crimson  and  scarlet  hackles, 
and  yellow  wing  feathers. 

There  is  a  Limerick  hook  now  made  with  the  shank 
turned  over  so  as  to  form  a  loop  into  which  the  gut  is 
inserted  and  the  trouble  of  tying  the  gut  is  avoided. 
They  have  come  into  general  use  among  the  Irish  and 
Scotch  fishermen,  and  are  a  great  aid  to  the  man  that 
ties  his  own  flies.  The  gut  in  ordinary  fly  fishing  wears 
out  just  above  the  hook,  a  difficulty  that  is  entirely 
removed  by  this  improvement,  and  it  is  by  no  means  so 
ugly  or  ungainly  as  might  be  supposed.  This  is  no  new 
discovery,  but  has  been  practised  with  common  Ameri- 
ican  hooks  for  a  considerable  period,  and  might  be 
advantageously  used  in  many  kinds  of  fishing,  and  ap- 
plied to  all  hooks. 

Hooks  are  numbered  in  the  most  singular  manner,  no 


FLIES    AND    KNOTS.  271 

two  makers  agreeing,  and  some  indulging  in  remarkable 
eccentricities.  But  as  Limerick  hooks  are  generally 
used  for  fly-making,  the  numbers  2,  1,  !•§-,  0  and  2/0  will 
include  all  that  is  requisite.  No.  1J-  is  my  favorite  for 
ordinary  purposes,  but  a  few  %  may  be  desirable  in 
heavy  water,  with  an  occasional  monster  for  foaming 
rapids. 

The  charges  for  dressing  trout  flies  in  this  country  are 
exorbitant,  whereas  in  England  they  can  be  purchased 
of  the  best  makers  at  from  seventy-five  cents  to  a  dollar 
and  a  half  per  dozen, ;  we  are  charged  from  a  dollar  and  a 
half  to  three  dollars,  and  generally  furnished  an  inferior 
article.  There  is  an  abominable  article  of  wholesale 
traffic  sold  for  fifty  cents  a  dozen,  that  is  beneath  any 
sportsman's  notice.  I  have  imported  a  great  many,  but 
it  is  a  troublesome  operation,  and  the  best  way  is  to  bear 
the  imposition  meekly. 

The  English  and  Irish  salmon  flies  are,  on  the  con- 
trary, expensive ;  a  great  deal  of  the  neck  and  top-knot 
of  the  golden  pheasant  and  of  the  wings  of  the  blue-jay 
is  employed, .  birds  which  cost  from  ten  to  twenty-five 
dollars  a  piece,  and  which  only  furnish  twenty  to  thirty' 
pairs  of  each  kind  of  feathers.  The  use,  therefore,  of 
several  long  crest  and  neck  feathers  at  fifty  cents  a  pair 
in  the  wing,  and  five  or  six  from  the  top-knot  for  the 
tail,  besides  other^  expensive  materials  and  the  employ- 
ment of  the  best  workmanship,  will  make  a  fly  dear  at 
the  original  cost.  Blacker,  the  great  English  rod  and 
fly  maker,  has  been  paid  two  guineas  apiece  for  his 
finest.  The  reader  may  console  himself  by  remembering 
that  salmon  were  taken  with  the  fly  before  the  golden 


272  FLIES    AND    KNOTS. 

pheasant  was  heard  of  as  one  of  the  indispensable  ingre- 
dients. A  little  practice  will  enable  the  angler  to  make 
flies  himself,  and  add  to  his  sport  the  consciousness  of 
invention. 

Except  in  that  way,  and  except  for  salmon  fishing,  the 
sportsmen  of  our  country  have,  no  time  to  waste  tying 
flies.  The  regular  shops  charge  a  heavy  profit  over  the 
amount  paid  the  workman,  and  if  the  purchaser  is  capa- 
ble of  telling  a  good  fly,  the  best  plan  is  to  go  direct  to 
the  latter,  explain  what  is  wanted,  and  show  an  interest 
in  the  proceeding.  A  half  dozen  of  each  of  the  fore- 
going specimens,  firmly  fastened  on  strong,  round,  even 
gut,  will  last  two  months'  daily  salmon  fishing  in  well- 
stocked  streams.  An  average  loss  of  four  or  five  a  day 
would  be  by  no  means  surprising,  although  a  single  one 
might  kill  a  great  many  fine  fish.  Hooks  are  apt  to  be 
broken  at  the  bend  by  striking  against  a  rock,  from  care- 
lessness, or  the  awkward  handling  of  too  long  a  line.  If 
you  find  a  hook  broken  in  that  way,  lay  it  primarily  to 
this  cause,  and  watch  the  sweep  of  your  cast. 

After  the  fly  is  made,  tying  it  on  to  the  leader  and  the 
leader  to  the  line  is  an  important  matter,  and  as  it  is 
always  desirable  to  put  the  right  knot  in  the  right  place, 
the  following  directions  may  do  something  toward  ena- 
bling one  to  effect  that  object,  and  after  a  little  practice 
will  be  found  entirely  intelligible.  The  gut  lengths  of 
the  droppers  should  be  short,  to  prevent  their  fouling 
round  the  leader. 

"No.  1  and  !N"o.  2  are  both  good  ties  to  fasten  the 
leader  to  the  line.  No.  3  is  a  becket-hitch,  and  ~No.  4  a 
double  becket-hitch.  "No.  5  is  a  single  water  knot. 


KNOTS. 


273 


12* 


274:  FLIES   AND    KNOTS. 

No.  6  is  a  double  water  knot.  The  latter  are  used  for 
tying  lengths  of  gut  together.  But  recollect  that  before 
a  knot  is  made  in  gut  it  must  be  wet,  and  had  better  be 
soaked  for  some  time  in  warm  water.  In  using  the 
double  knot,  the  ends  need  not  be  whipped  down. 
No.  7  shows  how  a  dandy  fastens  his  droppers  to  the 
leader.  No.  8  shows  how  a  lazy  man  does  the  same 
thing. 

No.  10  is  a  reef,  or  square  knot.  No.  11  is  a  granny 
knot,  and  you  had  better  not  knot  that  knot  as  a  reef 
knot  at  sea.  The  former  never  slips,  and  yet  never  jams ; 
the  latter  always  slips  and  always  jams.  No.  12  is  a 
bowline,  the  best  knot  of  all. 

No.  13  is  a  wall.  No.  14,  a  wall  and  crown ;  follow 
the  strands  round  with  the  ends,  arid  it  is  a  double  wall 
and  crown.  No.  15,  a  Mathew  Walker,  is  made  by 
unlaying  the  strands  a  sufficient  distance,  and  carrying 
one  end  underneath  and  through  its  own  bight,  then  the 
next  underneath  through  the  bight  of  the  first  and  its 
own  bight,  and  then  the  third  underneath  through  the 
bight  of  the  first  and  second  and  then  its  own.  No.  16 
shows  the  first  strand  passed ;  No.  17  is  the  finished 
knot.  A  diamond  knot,  No.  18,  is  made  by  laying  the 
strands  back  along  the  rope,  then  passing  the  first  end 
over  the  second  through  the  bight  of  the  third,  the 
second  over  the  third  and  through  the  first,  and  so  on, 
drawing  all  tight.  It  may  be  crowned  like  a  wall. 

No.  19  is  a  sheet  bend.  No.  20,  a  studding  sail  bend. 
No.  21,  a  rolling  hitch.  No.  22,  a  timber  hitch.  No.  23, 
a  clove  hitch.  A  whipping  is  put  on  as  shown  by  No.  24, 
by  first  passing  the  turns  over  one  end,  and  then  the 


FLIES    AND    KNOTS.  275 

other  end  under  the  last  few  turns,  and  drawing  it  close. 
No.  25  is  called  a  cat's  paw.  These  knots  will  probably 
be  sufficient  without  adding  the  hangman's  knot,  with 
its  seven  professional  turns,  and  a  choice  among  them 
will  often  be  found  convenient,  while  a  glance  at  the  cut 
will  refresh  an  imperfect  recollection. 
-  In  tying  flies  or  hooks,  it  is  well  to  use  varnish  occa- 
sionally, in  fact  wherever  it  can  be  done  without  injur- 
ing the  appearance  of  the  colors ;  no  fly  will  last  well 
that  has  not  been  varnished.  In  making  the  wings  of 
salmon  flies,  it  is  usual  to  put  on  numerous  fibres,  often 
of  different  feathers,  and  tie  them  on  separately.  This 
renders  the  wings  more  pliable,  but  destroys  their  beauty 
and  harmony.  A  number  of  inconsistent  colors  will 
injure  the  effect  of  one  another;  the  contrast  between 
body  and  wings  should  be  decided,  and  the  unity  and 
coherence  of  the  latter  should  be  preserved.  If  the  tip 
of  the  feather  is  used  and  fastened  by  the  stem,  it  will 
slip  unless  firmly  secured.  There  is  great  difference  in 
the  adhesion  of  the  fibres  of  different  feathers,  but  a  lit- 
the  practice  will  determine  the  selection. 

Black  bass  flies  are  generally  made  with  a  red  body, 
gold  twist,  and  wings  of  ibis  and  white,  or  black  and 
white,  or  peacock's  herl  and  white  ;  but  a  beautiful  and 
effective  fly  is  made  as  follows :  wings,  two  plumes  of 
the  silver  pheasant  with  two  smaller  ones  of  ibis  over 
them ;  body,  blood-red  mohair ;  furnace  hackle ;  blue 
floss  tip  ;  gold  tag,  and  ibis  tail. 

In  salmon  fishing  it  is  customary  to  use  but  one  fly, 
as  two  sixteen-pound  fish  would  be  troublesome  to 
handle ;  but  occasionally  a  dropper  is  added  at  the 


276  PLIES    AND    KNOTS. 

upper  end  of  the  casting  line  to  attract  their  atten- 
tion. 

Three  flies  are  sufficient  for  trout  fishing,  and  are 
desirable,  although  frequently  failing  to  hook  the  fish  in 
consequence  of  lying  on  or  close  to  the  leader.  This  is 
in  a  measure  prevented  by  short,  stiff  gut  lengths,  but 
when  the  rises  are  mainly  at  the  upper  flies,  many  will 
be  missed. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  well  to  mention  that 
coloring  gut,  especially  for  bright,  transparent  waters,  is 
an  error ;  remember  the  fish  from  below  look  at  it 
against  the  sky,  and  will  see  it  the  plainer  the  more 
it  is  colored.  The  less  distinguishable  to  the  angler 
the  more  apparent  it  is  to  them.  This  can  be  proved 
without  difficulty,  by  holding  against  the  light  two 
strands,  one  plain  and  the  other  colored.  For  salmon, 
it  should,  if  single,  be  round  and  strong ;  for  trout,  fine 
and  delicate. 


INSECTS.  277 


CHAPTEK   XXYIII. 

INSECTS. 

THERE  is  nothing  more  beautiful,  wonderful  and  inter- 
esting than  insect  life ;  there  is  nothing  that  offers  a 
wider  field  for  examination  or  affords  more  gratify- 
ing results.  Under  the  head  of  insects  are  classed, 
in  popular  language,  all  the  minute  animals  ;  but 
only  those  having  six  legs  and  two  antennae,  and  which 
undergo  one  or  more  changes  or  metamorphoses  should 
be  included ;  most  of  them  have  wings,  and  their  name 
is  derived  from  the  word  insecta,  divided,  which  is  ap- 
plied to  the  divisions  or  articulations  of  their  bodies. 
The  outer  part  of  their  body  is  slightly  bony,  and  to  it 
the  muscles  are  attached. 

Insects  exist  in  myriads ;  whole  families  are  still 
undescribed,  and  many  species  unknown.  Even  in  the 
old  countries  new  discoveries  are  made  yearly,  and  in  the 
New  World  it  can  hardly  be  said  that  anything  is 
authenticated  on  the  subject.  Facts  concerning  the  com- 
monest are  most  remarkable.  One  class  of  white  ants, 
like  our  southern  fellow  countrymen,  makes  slaves  of  a 
darker  race.  Many  beautiful  flies  live  only  a  few  hours. 
The  eyes  of  the  common  house  fly  are  composed  of  nu- 
merous surfaces  or  lenses,  and  their  life,  habits  and 
instincts  are  a  study  in  themselves.  Being  so  numerous 


278  •  INSECTS. 

and  so  nearly  allied,  their  classification  is  entirely  imper- 
fect, and  like  a  similar  attempt  with  any  other  part  of 
animal  life,  a  failure.  Almost  every  scientific  writer  has 
invented  a  system  of  entomological  distribution  for  him- 
self, and  their  united  efforts  have  produced  endless  con- 
fusion ;  the  arrangement  generally  followed  is  that  of 
Latreille,  the  father  of  modern  entomology. 

Insects  are  by  him  divided  into  two  great  divisions : 
those  that  live  by  chewing,  mandibulata,  and  those  that 
live  by  sucking,  haustellata,  whence  the  name  applied  to 
some  of  the  human  family.  Of  the  former  the  beetles, 
coleopteTa,  are  prominent,  and  among  the  latter  the 
butterflies,  lepidoptera.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the 
bees,  although  furnished  with  a  sucking  apparatus  to 
collect  honey,  feed  with  mandibles,  and  are  in  the  first 
class. 

Latreille  further  divides  the  various  groups  as  follows  ; 
and  although  English  authors  have  made  many  changes, 
the  alterations  are  of  such  doubtful  utility  that  the  origi- 
nal classification  will  be  retained. 

The  first  class  is  that  of  insects  without  wings,  such  as 
the  thysanura,  or  those  having  a  bushy  tail,  which  are 
mandibulate.  Parasites  or  lice,  and  fleas,  both  of  which 
are  suctional,  the  last  having  a  metamorphose,  but  the 
first  two  not.  All  others  have  wings,  but  the  second 
class  includes  those  that  have  a  hard  covering  or  case, 
called  an  elytron,  -over  their  wings ;  the  beetles,  which 
have  a  horny  wing  cover  and  perfect  metamorphose  ;  the 
dermoptera,  which  have  a  horny  wing  cover  but  an  im- 
perfect metamorphose ;  the  orthoptera,  or  straight- winged 
insects,  their  wings  folding  longitudinally,  and  having  a 


INSECTS.  279 

leathery  cover — all  of  which  are  mandibulate  ;  and  the 
hemiptera,  which  have  the  wings  half  leathery  and  half 
membranous,  and  the  mouth  suctorial,  and  in  both  of  the 
latter  the  metamorphose  is  imperfect.  In  the  third  class 
the  wings  are  naked  and  alike ;  it  includes  the  neuro- 
ptera,  or  nerve-winged  insects,  in  which  the  veins  of  the 
wings  are  like  a  net ;  the  hymenoptera,  the  wings  being 
membranous,  and  veined  lengthwise — both  families  being 
mandibulate ;  the  lepidoptera,  or  scale-winged  insects, 
having  delicate  scales  on  the  wings — this  order  is  sucto- 
rial, and  the  entire  three  orders  have  four  wings ;  the 
rhipiptera,  which  are  mandibulate  and  have  two  balances 
or  halteres  before  the  wings  which  close  like  a  fan, 
whence  their  name  is  derived,  and  the  diptem,  which  have 
two  halteres  behind  the  wings — in  these  families  there 
are  only  two  wings. 

The  orthoptera  include,  as  familiar  examples,  cock- 
roaches, crickets,  katydids,  and  grasshoppers  ;  the  neivro- 
ptera  white  ants,  May-flies,  caddis-flies,  dragon-flies  or 
devil's  darning  needles,  and  hoodlbugs  ;  the  kymenoptera 
common  ants,  wasps  and  bees ;  the  lepidoptera  butter- 
flies, moths,  silk-worms,  and  humming-birds ;  the  hemi- 
ptera  plant  lice,  cochineals,  and  locusts ;  the  diptera  mos- 
quitoes, house-flies,  horse-flies,  and  bot-flies. 

The  order  h&miptera  is  frequently  divided  into  two, 
according  as  the  wings  are  of  a  uniform  texture,  homo- 
ptera,)  or  of  a  varied  texture,  heteroptera  /  the  lepidoptera 
are  divided  into  three  classes — those  that  fly  by  day,  and 
generally  have  the  antennae  knobbed ;  those  that  fly  in 
the  twilight  and  have  the  antennae  thickened,  and  those 
that  are  nocturnal  and  have  the  antennae  slender.  The 


280  INSECTS. 

English  writers  have  transposed  the  families  grillidoB 
and  locustidoe  to  suit  the  popular  translation  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  have  introduced  a  separate  order  called 
trichoptera. 

As  they  are  principally  minute  objects,  wise  men 
wisely  concluded  the  deficiency  should  be  made  up  in 
length  of  name,  and  but  one  class  appears  under  the 
weight  of  less  than  four  syllables.  The  families  compos- 
ing these  orders  are  almost  innumerable,  and  only  those 
that  are  allied  to  the  subject  in  hand  can  even  be  men- 
tioned. Amateur  entomologists  prefer  the  coleoptera  for 
their  beauty  and  variety,  and  collections  of  insects  are 
mainly  composed  of  brilliant,  gaudy  and  wondrous  bee- 
tles, varying  in  size  from  the  giant,  as  large  as  the  pretty 
fist  of  one  of  the  reader's  little  female  acquaintances,  to 
the  pigmy  that  is  hardly  perceptible  to  the  eye.  There 
is  the  beautiful  and  useful  lady-bird,  the  wonderful  light- 
ning-bug, the  elephant  beetle  with  trunk  and  tusks,  the 
hercules  with  stout  heavy  limbs,  the  palm  weevil,  whose 
disgusting  grubs  are  eaten  as  delicacies  by  the  deluded 
people  of  St.  Domingo,  and  many  other  dangerous  look- 
ing fellows  with  long  sharp  snouts  that  are  really  harm- 
less, and  innocent  looking  fellows  that  are  really  danger- 
ous. The  fly-fisher,  however,  relies  for  his  pleasure 
mainly  upon  his  imitations  of  the  neuroptera  and  diptera, 
and  not  so  much  upon  the  coleoptera. 

The  young  of  the  insect  tribe,  when  it  issues  from  the 
shell  in  the  shape  of  a  worm,  is  known  as  the  larva, 
although  the  larvse  of  some  butterflies  are  called  cater- 
pillars, and  of  certain  flies  maggots.  When  the  larva 
begins  its  metamorphose  it  is  named  a  pupa  or  chrysalis, 


INSECTS.  281 

and  the  covering  with  which  it  surrounds  itself  a  pupa- 
case  or  cocoon.  It  then  undergoes  a  wonderful  change, 
becoming  the  full-formed  insect  or  imago — the  ugly 
worm,  that  a  short  time  previous  had  surrounded  itself 
with  a  silken  cocoon,  bursting  its  case  and  flying  off  a 
gay,  attractive  and  resplendent  butterfly.  From  crawl- 
ing meanly  over  the  ground  or  the  foliage,  leaving  a 
slimy  streak  behind,  or  horrible  with  a  greenish  smooth 
body  and  clinging  feet,  or  disgusting  with  innumerable 
bristles,  it  soars  away,  its  gay  plumage  glittering  in  the 
sunlight  as  it  flits  from  flower  to  flower,  the  envy  and 
admiration  of  the  human  female  sex.  How  much  is 
there  not  in  beauty  ! 

Many  insects  live  for  years  as  worms,  and  but  a  few 
hours  in  their  perfect  state.  The  ephemera,  so  called 
from  appearing  in  the  morning  and  dying  before  night, 
often  do  not  reach  half  that  age,  although  if  the  sexes 
are  separated  they  will  sometimes  attain  the  great  age 
of  several  weeks.  They  may  be  regarded  as  sacrificing 
their  lives  for  the  tender  passion.  They  cover  our  waters 
in  Summer,  warmed  into  existence  by  the  sun's  rays,  flit- 
ting in  a  graceful  but  inefficient  way  from  place  to  place, 
or  floating  calmly  upon  the  surface,  dropping  back  into 
nonentity  with  the  departing  sunlight.  They  are  some- 
times, especially  in  the  southern  country,  quite  large,  and 
include  what  among  fishermen  are  known  as  the  May- 
flies. 

In  some  classes  the  change  from  the  larva  is  not  so 
remarkable,  the  worm  having  much  of  the  appearance, 
and  many  of  the  distinctive  marks  of  the  perfect  fly, 
as  for  example  the  bee ;  in  these  the  metamorphose  is 


282  INSECTS. 

said  to  be  imperfect.  The  eyes  of  insects  are  either 
compound,  composed  of  numerous  lenses,  amounting  in 
certain  butterflies  to  thirty  thousand,  or  simple,  called 
stemmata,  the  latter  alone  being  found  in  the  larvae, 
although  in  some  of  the  beetles  the  larvae  have  eyes  in 
the  head  and  tail  both.  They  are  often  long  in  matiir- 
ing ;  one  species  of  locust,  as  is  well  known,  remains 
seventeen  years  before  coming  to  perfection,  and  many 
other  families  continue  several  years  as  larvae.  Some  of 
the  larvae  live  in  the  earth,  some  in  wood,  and  others 
under  water  ;  some  hide  themselves  in  a  cocoon  ere  their 
metamorphose  is  effected,  others  build  houses  of  stones 
or  sticks,  others 'have  no  protection  ;  but  all  are  wonder- 
ful. One  swims  upon  the  water,  another  walks  upon  its 
surface,  a  third  crawls  along  at  the  bottom,  although  the 
majority  live  upon  dry  land.  In  defence  they  use  a 
sting,  simulate  death,  eject  a  poisonous  liquid,  or  emit 
an  offensive  smell.  The  eggs  mature  in  the  running  or 
stagnant  water,  in  the  ground,  in  the  limbs  of  trees,  in 
the  foliage  and  stems,  or  in  the  fruit.  Grasshoppers  in 
the  East,  grubs  among  savages,  snails  among  French- 
men, ants  among  Brazilians,  locusts  among  prophets, 
and,  if  all  reports  are  true,  certain  minute  parasites 
among  Italians,  have  furnished  pleasing  and  nutritious 
food. 

But  of  all  the  marvels  of  insect  life,  that  which  is  least 
consonant  with  nature  and  least  credible  to  human 
understanding,  is  the  fact  that  they, appear  spontaneously. 
"Why  should  a  few  drops  of  rain  in  a  dusty  road  produce 
animalculse  never  seen  before  ?  Why  should  a  little  per- 
manent dirt  originate  two  distinct  parasites,  according  as 


INSECTS.  283 

it  accumulates  on  the  head  or  body  ?  "Why  should-  new 
insects  year  after  year  make  a  perpetually  changing 
warfare  against  the  farmer's  crops  in  gradation  with  the 
exhaustion  of  the  soil  ?  Why  should  the  Hessians  bring 
the  Hessian  fly,  or  vice  versa,  as  you  please  ?  And  a 
great  many  other  Whys  which  never  have  been  and 
never  will  be  answered  till  the  "  heavens  shall  be  rolled 
up  as  a  scroll." 

Insects  feed  voraciously  on  leaves,  vegetables,  fruit,  on 
human  blood — sad  to  relate — and  fortunately  on  one 
another.  Mosquitoes,  thank  Heaven,  have  parasites  that 
cling  to  the  delicate  rings  of  their  bodies,  stinging  the 
arch-stinger,  and  inflicting  by  their  venomous  bites  the 
same  agonies  the  sufferers  inflict  on  others.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  those  gentlemen  will  increase  and  multiply,  and 
after  exterminating  mosquitoes  may  pay  their  addresses 
to  the  black  gnats.  Certain  families,  especially  of  the 
coleoptera,  emit  a  species  of  phosphorescent  light  in  the 
dark,  occasionally  light  enough  to  read  by.  The  majority 
of  insects  have  wings,  but  many  have  not,  and  in  some 
only  one  gender  is  winged.  A  few  kinds,  such  as  the 
locusts,  katydids,  crickets,  death-ticks,  emit  sounds,  to 
which  man's  sympathies  have  added  either  a  pleasant  or 
painful  association,  and  produce  these  peculiar  cries  gen- 
erally by  rubbing  the  wings  or  some  part  of  the  body. 
The  wings  of  insects  do  not  exceed  four,  and  are  often 
limited  to  two;  their  legs. are  six;  some  have  antennae 
or  feelers,  others  long  whisks  from  their  tails. 

The  neuroptera,  or  net- winged  insects,  florftiegen,  gauze- 
flies,  as  they  are  called  by  the  Germans,  include  the 
principal  pets  of  the  fly-fisher.  Their  bodies  are  long, 


284  .     INSECTS. 

tapering  and  delicate  ;  their  wings,  four,  almost  transpa- 
rent and  marked  with  net-like  veins.  They  keep  in 
continual  motion  for  the  purpose  of  catching  smaller 
insects,  on  which  they  mainly  feed,  and  generally  deposit 
their  eggs  in  the  water,  where  the  grubs  live  from  one  to 
two  years  on  plants  or  other  insects. 

That  most  fearful  looking,  but  really  harmless  and  bene- 
ficent creature,  the  devil's  darning-needle,  or  dragon-fly, 
libettula,  is  a  remarkable  specimen  of  this  family.  They 
are  called  demoiselles  by  the  French,  wasserjunfern^  water- 
virgins  by  the  Germans;  but,  in  spite  of  these  pretty 
appellations,  are  the  tyrants  of  the  surface  of  the  ponds ; 
they  seize  and  tear  to  pieces  all  other  insects,  including 
butterflies  and  mosquitoes,  and  will  clear  a  house  of  the 
common  fly.  They  are  cruel,  rapacious  and  insatiable, 
and  I  do  not  know  of  their  ever  being  used  as  bait  for 
trout. 

The  phryganea,  or  water-moth,  is  one  of  the  favorites 
of  the  fly-fisher.  Its  grubs  surround  themselves  with  a 
case  formed  of  wood  or  grass,  and  are  used  by  him  as 
bait  under  the  name  of  caddis-worms.  They  are  the 
favorite  food  of  the  trout  in  early  spring.  But  the 
ephemeridce  include  most  of  the  specimens  imitated  by 
the  fisherman.  The  larvae  of  these  live  in  the  water,  for 
one  or  more  years,  and  then,  swimming  to  the  surface, 
suddenly  change  into  winged  insects,  delicate  and  beau- 
tiful. They  sometimes  appear  in  myriads,  their  dead 
bodies  covering  the  water.  A  few  make  a  second  change 
after  flying  about  for  a  time,  and  crawl  out  of  their  skins 
once  more,  leaving  their  old  clothes,  to  all  appearance 
perfect,  sticking  to  a  tree  or  fence.  On  their  first  appear- 


INSECTS.  285 

ance  they  are  said  to  be  in  the  pseudimago  state,  and  to 
them  the  name  duns  is  applied  by  the  fly-fisher ;  when 
they  change  to  the  imago  or  perfect  fly,  they  are  called 
piscatorially  spinners.  There  are  exceptions  to  this  uni- 
formity, as  with  the  May-flies ;  the  green  drake  is  the 
pseudimago^  and  the  grey  drake  the  imago. 

The  phryganidce  and  ephemeridce  are  easily  distin- 
guished ;  in  the  former  the  wings  lie  close  along  the 
back,  projecting  beyond  the  body;  the  antennae  or 
feelers  are  long,  and  there  are  no  whisks ;  in  the  latter 
the  wings  stand  upright  from  the  body  like  a  butterfly's, 
the  antennae  are  very  short,  and  there  are  two,  or  occa- 
sionally three,  long  delicate  whisks. 

The  phryganidce  attach  their  eggs  to  the  foliage  over- 
hanging the  water,  whence  upon  hatching  the  larvae  fall, 
and  immediately  proceed  to  construct,  of  twigs  or  gravel, 
miniature  houses  like  a  snail's  shell,  where  they  reside  in 
peace  and  safety.  These  cases  are  lined  with  silk,  spun 
from  the  insect's  mouth,  and  are  so  light  as  not  seriously 
to  impede  its  swimming  and  rambling  in  search  of  food, 
and  being  open  at  both  ends,  allow  him  a  view  of  the 
outside  world.  The  larvae  live  mainly  on  aquatic  plants, 
and  when  the  proper  time  arrives,  they  close  the  ends  of 
their  houses  with  a  species  of  grating,  and  commence  the 
dormant  state  of  the  pupa.  In  this  they  remain  a  few 
days,  and  then  emerging  from  their  case,  they  ascend  to 
the  surface,  burst  their  skin,  and  fly  away  in  their  perfect 
state  of  beauty. 

The  ephemeridce  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  water,  where 
they  soon  hatch,  and  where  the  grub,  which  lives  usually 
on  clay  or  vegetable  matter,  resides,  occasionally  for 


286  INSECTS. 

several  years,  hiding  under  stones  or  in  holes  in  the  mud. 
It  then  becomes  a  pupa,  and  after  accomplishing  its  time, 
rises  to  the  surface,  throws  off  its  skin,  and  flies  away, 
bearing  the  name  of  dun ;  it  shortly  alights  on  a  tree  or 
fence,  and  sheds  its  entire  skin,  withdrawing  even  its 
delicate  wings  and  minute  whisks  from  their  previous 
covering.  Its  colors  in  the  second  stage  are  usually  more 
brilliant,  and  under  the  name  spinner  it  enjoys  the  plea- 
sures of  life,  perpetuates  its  species  and  dies  in  a  few 
hours.  While  laying  its  eggs,  it  will  be  noticed  either 
resting  on  the  water  or  floating  up  and  down  over  it. 
Certain  species  can  swim  well  under  water,  and  I  believe 
descend  to  the  bottom  to  deposit  their  eggs.  I  have  had 
numbers  alight  on  my  pants  when  I  was  wading  a  rapid 
stream,  run  down  my  legs  to  the  bottom,  crawl  over  the 
stones,  and  with  a  zig-zag  motion  swim  against  the  cur- 
rent to  the  surface.  Rocks  are  frequently  seen  darkened 
with  flies,  that  on  any  sudden  approach  drop  into  the 
water  and  disappear. 

The  ephemeridce  include  the  blue  dun,  which  becomes 
the  red  spinner  in  its  final  state ;  the  marsh  brown,  which 
changes  to  the  great  red  spinner ;  the  turkey  brown,  that 
is  transformed  into  the  little  dark  spinner ;  the  iron  blue 
dun,  that  becomes  the  jenny  spinner;  the  green  and 
grey  drakes,  the  July  and  August  duns,  and  many  others. 
The  phryganidce  comprise  the  sand  and  cinnamon  flics 
and  the  grannom  or  green-tail,  besides  many  undescribed. 
Of  the  diptera,  which  are  distinguished  by  having  but 
two  wings,  we  have  the  cowdung-fly,  the  golden  dun 
midge,  and  the  black  gnat ;  of  the  beetles,  the  peacock 
and  fern  flies  and  marlow  buzz ;  of  the  hymenoptera,  the 


INSECTS.  287 

red  ant  and  orange-fly;  and  occasionally  crickets  and 
grasshoppers  are  imitated. 

These  are  a  few,  and  but  a  few,  of  the  beautiful  insects 
that  sport  around  or  upon  our  lovely  lakes  and  streams ; 
the  advancing  heat  of  Spring  warms  them  into  life ;  they 
burst  forth,  enchanting  man  with  their  beauty,  and  gaily 
pass  a  few  days  or  hours,  surrounded  by  innumerable 
dangers,  which  they  seem  never  to  heed.  One  kind  suc- 
ceeds anbther  as  the  summer  advances,  usually  the  more 
gaudy  during  the  greatest  heat,  till ,  they  crowd  the 
ponds,  the  air,  the  bushes  with  indescribable  brilliancy. 
I  have  seen,  toward  evening,  yellow  sallies  appear  in 
myriads,  their  dead  bodies  literally  covering  the  water ; 
and  in  the  St.  Lawrence  rivers,  dead  eel-flies  lie  in  such 
masses  as  to  give  tlie  effect  of  sea-weed. 

It  is  very  desirable  that  fishermen  should,  for  their 
own  sakes  as  well  as  the  sake  of  science,  pay  more  atten- 
tion to  the  habits  and  peculiarities  of  these  insects.  The 
study  of  nature  in  its  minute  productions  is  wonderful ; 
the  observations  of  individuals  combined  is  of  great 
value,  and  adds  immensely  to  the  general  store  of  know- 
ledge ;  something  more  would  be  effected  than  the  mere 
pleasure  of  taking  a  large  mess,  and  the  reproach  of 
idleness  removed  from  our  enjoyments.  To  be  sure,  the 
men  of  science,  by  the  use  of  ridiculous  foreign  names 
and  the  confounding  of  a  confused  and  worthless  system, 
have  done  all  they  can  to  discourage  such  an  undertaking 
and  repel  such  aid;  but  every  one  can  note  the  pecu- 
liarities that  are  heretofore  mentioned,  can  even  readily 
preserve  a  specimen  and  mark  the  times  and  manner  of 
their  appearance  and  the  length  of  their  duration,  and 


288 


INSECTS. 


though  he  may  fail  to  obtain  the  scientific  name,  can 
determine  the  species  and  ascertain  the  habits  of  a  few 
members  of  the  most  wonderful,  intricate,  and  interest- 
ing portion  of  the  creation. 


CAMP    LIFE. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

CAMP    LIFE.' 

ONE  of  the  most  important  matters  that  demand  the 
sportsman's  attention,  is  the  equipment  he  should  take 
with  him  to  make  his  life  in  the  woods  pleasant.  He  will 
have  many  annoyances  and  even  hardships  to  encounter, 
and  should  be  as  well  prepared  to  meet  them  as  circum- 
stances will  permit.  The  following  directions  are  founded 
upon  the  idea  he  intends  to  retire  to  the  wilderness,  far 
from  the  abode  of  man,  where  he  will  have  to  trust  for 
his  support  to  his  own  exertions,  and  although  many  of 
them  may  seem  superfluous,  and  to  the  robust  may  savor 
of  effeminacy,  to  those  who  desire  real  comfort  they  will 
prove  acceptable. 

The  great  pest  of  the  wild  woods  is — not  tigers  nor 
panthers,  not  bears  nor  wolves,  not  even  snakes — but 
something  far  smaller  but  infinitely  more  terrible — THE 
BLACK  FLY  !  If  it  were  possible  for  the  uninitiated  to 
conceive  or  the  pen  to  describe  the  horrors  conveyed  in 
these  words,  I  should  endeavor  to  record  them.  Think 
of  the  rack,  the  boot,  the  thumb-screw,  the  wheel ;  think 
of  being  rent  asunder  by  wild  horses,  or  torn  in  bits  with 
hot  pincers ;  think  of  the  tortures  of  the  inquisition,  or 
the  cruel  fanaticism  of  India,  and  smile  ;  they  do  not 
compare  with  the  black  fly.  When  mosquitoes  hover 

13 


290  CAMP    LIFE. 

round  you  clay  and  night,  when  they  fill  the  air  you 
breathe  and  deafen  your  ears  with  their  hum,  when  your 
hands,  face  and  body  are  covered  with  itching  lumps,  it 
is  hard  to  bear.  But  mosquitoes  are  comparatively  quiet 
in  the  sun-light,  and  are  partially  affected  by  smoke ; 
they  can  be  influenced  by  a  smudge,  can  be  frightened 
off  and  sometimes  killed  ;  they  do  -not  compare  with  the 
sand-fly. 

The  latter,  almost  invisible  to  the  naked  eye,  comes  in 
absolute  myriads  ;  it  settles  upon  every  inch  of  exposed 
flesh ;  it  creeps  into  every  crevice;  it  cannot  be  frightened 
away,  but  must  be  brushed  off ;  its  worst  attacks  are  at 
night,  when  tired  nature  is  pining  for  a  little  rest ;  its 
bite  does  not  itch,  but  burns  like  fire,  till  face,  hands  and 
neck  feel  as  though  they  had  been  scalded.  But  the 
sand-fly,  bad  as  he  is,  can  be  persuaded  out  of  your  tent 
by  a  fire  ;  he  does  not  abound  except  in  sandy  localities ; 
his  bite  does  not  draw  blood,  nor  raise  a  lump,  and  is  not 
permanent ;  he  does  not  compare  with  the  black  fly.  , 

The  latter  comes  without  a  warning  note  ;  he  bites  till 
the  blood  runs  in  a  stream,  and  inflicts  the  sharpest  pain  ; 
he  clings  fast  till  he  is  absolutely  rubbed  off,  and  crawls 
up  your  sleeve  or  pants  or  down  your  neck  ;  he  loves 
not  the  fire,  nor  fears  the  smoke  ;  he  cannot  be  enticed 
nor  driven  away.  The  mosquito  comes  numerous  as  the 
rain-drops  in  a  shower ;  the  sand-fly  as  the  motes  in  sun- 
light ;  but  the  black  fly  like  the  sand  of  the  desert  when 
the  simoom  is  raging.  Resignation  can  endure  the  first, 
stoicism  the  second,  but  nothing  the  last. 

All  three  of  these  pests  are  found  abundantly  in  the 
woods,  and  without  being  prepared  for  them,  instead  of 


CAMP    LIFE.  291 

pleasure,  the  sportsman's  trip  would  be  one  long  torture. 
People  have  been  known  to  be  completely  disfigured  by 
their  bites,  and  I  have  had  my  neck  as  thoroughly  gir- 
dled as  though  it  had  been  done  with  a  hot  iron.  Their 
bite  inflames  the  blood,  and  if  accompanied  with  the  free 
use  of  ardent  spirits,  may  produce  unpleasant  conse- 
quences. Let  no  man  through  foolhardiness  brave  their 
attacks,  thinking  he  can  rough  it  and  not  give  way 
before  such  pitiful  insects ;  as  brave  and  strong  men  as 
ever  lived  have  had  their  pleasure  destroyed  by  these 
curses  of  our  country,  and  he  will  repent  his  rashness,  if 
not  in  sack-cloth  and  ashes,  in  blood  and  misery.  I 
have  seen  a  hard-working  man  so  worn  out  by  their 
attacks  as  to  fall  fast  asleep  standing  up  leaning  against 
a  rock  in  a  hot  July  sun,  that  by  its  excessive  warmth 
had  for  the  moment  driven  the  torments  away.  He  wore 
a  veil,  but  not  being  properly  arranged,  the  flies  could 
climb  up  its  folds,  and  it  was  little  protection. 

One  may  well  ask  how  is  it  possible  to  defend  oneself 
from  such  irrepressible  villains ;  nor  can  it  be  done  per- 
fectly ;  with  the  best  precautions  there  will  be  enough 
to  try  nerve  and  temper.  Gauntlets  of  leather  drawn 
above  the  wrists  over  the  coat  sleeve  will,  though  rather 
warm,  effectually  protect  the  hand,  and  when  oppressive, 
may  be  cooled  by  being  dipped  in  water.  A  veil  is  the 
best  thing  for  the  face  ;  a  piece  of  elastic  run  round  the 
top  will  enable  you  to  slip  it  over  your  straw  hat  and 
fasten  it  above  the  brim,  which  will  keep  it  out  from  the 
face  ;  a  spring  wire  or  whalebone  hoop  sewed  in  a  few 
inches  below,  will  keep  it  off  your  nose,  and  another 
piece  of  elastic  round  the  bottom  will  hold  it  tight  around 


292  CAMP  LIFE- 

your  cravat,  so  that  the  flies  cannot  make  their  way 
beneath  it ;  or  the  latter  may  be  omitted  to  enable  you 
to  wipe  your  face  and  rub  off  those  stragglers  that  will 
find  their  way  in,  notwithstanding  your  precautions. 
There  is  a  light  substance  called  tissue,  that  makes  a 
cool  but  delicate  veil,  and  is  preferable  to  the  ordinary 
barege,  and  for  mosquitoes  and  black  flies,  bobinet  is 
still  lighter,  but  sand-flies  might  pass  the  meshes. 

Yarious  ointments  have  been  tried  with  partial  suc- 
cess ;  among  them,  tar  ointment  has  lately  become  con- 
spicuous, as  also  oil  with  a  few  drops  of  creosote,  but 
my  favorite  has  always  been  a  mixture  of  the  oil  of  pen- 
nyroyal with  an  equal  amount  of  almond  or  sweet  oil ; 
this  is  both  cleanly  and  effectual,  and  need  only  be 
renewed  once  a  day.  But  remember  it  must  be  the 
oil  and  not  the  essence  of  pennyroyal,  which  latter  is 
utterly  worthless.  Care  must  be  taken  with  it,  as  with 
the  others,  not  to  let  them  run  into  the  eyes,  as  they  will 
produce  unpleasant  smarting.  This  composition  is  death 
on  black  flies,  and  quite  successful  against  mosquitoes ; 
but  it  is  well,  also,  to  be  provided  with  tar  ointment, 
which  will  not  spill  if  the  bottle  is  broken. 

For  clothes,  the  best  suit  is  of  strong  duck,  heavy 
enough  to  resist  an  able-bodied  mosquito,  but  as  loose  as 
possible,  so  that  warm  flannels,  of  which  every  descrip- 
tion should  be  taken  in  abundance,  can  be  worn  beneath." 
Flannel  coats,  shirts  and  drawers  or  pantaloons  can  be 
crowded  into  a  small  space,  and  are  excellent  for  keep- 
ing out  cold,  and  are  not  rendered  unpleasant  by  moist- 
ure. It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Summers  in 
Canada  are  occasionally  absolutely  cold,  and  for  weeks 


CAMP    LIFE.  293 

in  July,  I  have  shivered  in  every  coat  and  flannel  I  had 
with  me. 

Moccasins  are  the  things  for  the  canoe,  but  if  you  try 
to  clamber  over  rocks  or  wade  streams  in  them,  your 
feet  will  be  bruised  and  cut  severely.  It  is  advisable  to 
wear  stout  ankle  gaiters  that  lace  up,  with  heavy  iron- 
nailed  slippers  that  may  be  fastened  with  a  strap  and 
buckle  over  them,  after  you  have  left  the  canoe,  and  by 
means  of  which  you  can  eling  to  the  rocks  without  slip- 
ping so  frequently  as  you  otherwise  would.  You  will 
wear  a  straw  hat,  of  course,  and  where  mosquitoes  are 
not  innumerable,  your  flannel  underclothes  will  make  a 
delightful  boating  suit.  Never  use  anything  but  woollen 
socks  for  any  sort  of  hard  walking,  and  by  having  your 
net  handle  shod  with  iron,  and  carrying  it  in  one  hand, 
you  will  make  your  way  among  the  slippery  rocks  with 
comparative  safety. 

The  bedding  should  consist  of  plenty  of  blankets,  and 
one  or  two  of  them  coated  with  India  rubber  and  ren- 
dered waterproof,  to  keep  off  the  moisture  that  will 
always  rise  from  the  ground  at  night,  to  wrap  the  rest  of 
your  clothes  in,  and  to  protect  them  and  yourself  from 
rain  and  wet.  A  stout  leather  strap  and  buckle  is  neces- 
sary for  the  latter  purpose.  The  best  tent  is  a  circular 
one  without  any  ridge-pole,  but  supported  by  a  rope  run 
through  a  pulley  attached  to  three  long  poles  cut  in  the 
woods,  and  placed  in  the  shape  of  a  tripod  above.  The 
pins  are  driven  into  the  cloth  itself,  and  hold  it  so  close 
to  the  ground  that  no  insects  can  penetrate  beneath, 
while  a  flap  effectually  closes  the  door.  There  is  a  hole 
for  ventilation  at  the  top,  which,  in  a  rain,  may  be  closed 


294:  CAMP    LIFE. 

with  a  canvas  cap.  A  stout  post  may  be  set  up  in  the 
centre  with  a  few  nails  on  which  to  hang  clothes.  This 
tent  should  only  be  used  at  a  permanent  camp ;  and  for 
travelling,  the  ordinary  tent  with  a  ridge-pole,  as  more 
accurately  described  hereafter,  is  preferable  ;  a  piece  of 
oiled  cloth  laid  over  sticks  planted  slanting  in  the  ground, 
will  keep  off  the  rain  and  dew. 

A  round  tent  of  twenty-four  feet  in  circumference  will 
not  accommodate  more  than  two  men  luxuriously,  where- 
as one  of  double  that  circumference  will  hold  five  times 
the  number.  A  large  tent  is  a  great  comfort  and  not 
much  trouble.  A  separate  tent  should  of  course  be 
taken  for  your  men,  and  another  simple  one  for  a  make- 
shift and  a  dining-room.  To  arrange  the  latter  is  your 
first  care  on  arriving  at  your  permanent  camping-ground, 
the  table  is  of  bark,  either  birch  or  spruce,  nailed  fast  to 
posts,  and  shielded  by  some  protection  from  the  rain  ; 
the  seats  are  either  a  large  log  or  the  barrels  you  have 
brought  with  you  to  carry  stores  and  fish,  or  else  stools 
ingeniously  chipped  from  the  trunks  of  trees  with  the 
branches  for  legs.  A  dressing-stand  is  then  arranged, 
with  a  wash-basin  made  of  birch  bark  ;  the  fire-place  is 
rigged  up  with  a  ridge-pole  supported  on  two  notched 
sticks,  and  with  a  hooked  withe  to  support  the  kettle, 
and  your  sylvan  home  is  furnished. 

To  support  and  gratify  the  inner  man,  it  is  well  to 
have  with  you  all  conceivable  little  delicacies,  such  as 
nutmegs,  allspice,  preserved  fruits,  meats  and  vegetables, 
sweet  oil,  lemons  and  raisins,  sardines,  chocolate,  citric 
acid  and  ginger ;  but  the  necessaries  are  clear  salt  pork, 
flour,  rice,  oat-meal  and  Indian-meal,  coffee,  tea,  brown 


CAMP    LIFE.  295 

and  white  sugar,  red  and  black  pepper,  fine  and  coarse 
salt,  butter,  sauces,  preserved  and  fresh  eggs,  solidified 
milk,  ales  and  ardents  according  to  consumption,  pota- 
toes, smoked  beef,  pickles,  piccalilly,  matches,  the 
essence  of  coffee,  bacon,  ham,  dried  beans  and  peas, 
hominy,  cigars,  onions,  bread,  crackers,  molasses,  tobacco, 
desiccated  meats  and  soups.  Many  of  these  articles  may 
be  advantageously  stowed  in  the  barrels  intended  for 
packing  fish,  but  the  butter  should  be  put  up  in  air-tight 
jars  in  small  quantities,  and  may  in  hot  weather  be 
buried  under  water  in  the  sand.  The  oil  tried  out  of  the 
pork  is  usually  used  for  frying  ;  but  if  you  have  sufficient 
butter  the  latter  is  infinitely  preferable. 

For  cooking  you  will  need  an  iron  pot  and  boiling  ket- 
tle, tin  kettles  fitting  inside  of  one  another,  a  frying-pan 
with  a  handle  like  the  kettle,  a  coffee-pot,  some  knives 
and  tin  plates,  cups,  spoons,  forks  and  deep  dishes,  and 
above  all  an  oyster  broiler.  The  latter  has  thin  wires, 
and,  having  two  surfaces,  can  be  turned  more  readily 
than  a  gridiron.  It  should  be  used  extensively  :  fish  and 
game  split  open  and  broiled,  well  basted  with  butter,  are 
undeniable,  and  will  be  found  a  pleasant  change  from  the 
eternal  fry.  Large  fish  may  be  boiled  and  served  up 
with  a  little  of  the  liquor  strengthened  with  a  teaspoon- 
ful  of  Worcestershire  sauce.  The  greatest  difficulty 
will  be  found  with  the  bread  ;  the  latter  may  be  kept  a 
couple  of  weeks,  and  when  excessively  dry,  by  steaming 
in  the  pot  will  be  rendered  eatable,  but  not  good.  Ship 
biscuit  must  be  the  main  reliance  for  a  long  tramp. 
Before  taking  your  departure,  if  you  could  obtain  a  few 
lesjons  in  cooking  from  some  elderly  lady  friend  whose 


296  CAMP    LIFE. 

youth  lias  not  been  so  entirely  devoted  to  dress  as  to  pre- 
vent her  knowing  something  of  her  household  duties,  and 
will  carry  with  you  a  few  simple  recipes,  you  will  not 
regret  it. 

As  no  one  can  be  certain  of  perfect  health  or  freedom 
from  accident,  it  is  well  to  be  provided  with  plenty  of 
sticking  and  court  plaster,  cholera  medicine  and  Rochelle 
salts ;  but  generally  the  fine  exercise  and  open  air  are  a 
brave  preventive  against  sickness.  Do  not  forget  brown 
soap  to  wash  the  dishes,  candles  for  light  in  the  evening, 
and  cream  of  tartar  and  soda  to  make  the  flour  rise. 

The  most  necessary  tools  are  an  axe,  a  hatchet,  one  of 
Aiken's  patent  diminutive  awl  tool-chests,  with  which  to 
mend  broken  rods,  needles  and  thread  to  mend  torn 
clothes,  some  rosin  to  mend  the  canoes,  and  a  supply  of 
various  sizes  of  nails  for  numerous  purposes,  while  a  file 
and  sharpening  stone  will  be  found  useful  additions.  An 
india-rubber  water-proof  bag  is  admirable  as  a  receptacle 
for  clothes  or  blankets,  which  should  be  heavy,  and  a 
tin  wash-basin  and  an  air-pillow  will  be  great  additional 
comforts.  Fresh  eggs  may  be  conveniently  stowed  in 
the  barrels  of  coarse  salt  used  for  curing  fish. 

Of  the  foregoing  there  are  none  you  can  comfortably 
omit,  and  besides  them  there  are  plenty  you  would  do 
well  to  have ;  but  the  judgment  and  taste  of  each  indi- 
vidual will  suggest  the  additions. 

As  one  of  the  first  objects  will  be  to  preserve  the  fish 
you  catch,  a  preparation  of  eight  ounces  of  sugar,  two 
ounces  of  salt,  half  an  ounce  of  brown  pepper,  well 
rubbed  into  fish  from  which  the  back  bone  has  been  re- 
moved, and  which  are  allowed  to  dry  in  the  sun,  jvill 


CAMP    LIFE.  297 

preserve  them  over  a  month.  They  should  be  packed  in 
barrels  with,  layers  of  bark  between,  and  will  prove  more 
edible  than  when  simply  smoked  ;  by  smoking  they  may 
be  kept  for  years,  and  the  fisherman  long  have  the  proud 
pleasure  of  offering  to  friend  at  breakfast  a  little  of  the 
salmon  he  killed  and  smoked  himself  the  previous  Sum- 
mer in  Canada. 

In  warm  weather,  fish  merely  salted  cannot  be  kept 
long,  and  pickling  in  brine  utterly  destroys  their  flavor  ; 
but  if  the  latter  method  must  be  adopted,  a  pickle  of  two 
parts  salt  and  one  part  common  brown  sugar  will  keep 
them  forever.  Before  cooking,  however,  they  should  be 
well  soaked.  Pickling  in  vinegar  with  a  few  cloves  is 
probably  the  best  mode  where  it  is  possible. 

The  gum  for  mending  the  canoes — and  it  is  surprising 
how  large  a  hole  it  will  fill — is  ma^e  of  one  part  rosin 
to  three  parts  balsam  gum,  fused  together.  If  the  aper- 
ture is  very  extensive,  a  piece  of  linen  saturated  with 
melted  gum  should  be  applied.  In  New  Brunswick  and 
Maine  it  is  usual  to  mix  rosin  and  grease,  which  answers 
every  purpose. 

To  smoke  fish,  it  is  necessary  to  salt  them  in  a  tub, 
wrhere  they  can  form  a  brine,  and  leave  them  thus  for 
three  days,  and  then  hang  them  in  a  smoke-house,  not 
too  near  the  fire,  for  as  many  more,  when  they  are  to  be 
packed  in  layers,  separate.  Fish  are  soused  by  being 
partially  boiled,  and  having  vinegar  boiled  in  copper 
kettles  mixed  with  allspice  and  poured  over  them.  Iron 
turns  the  vinegar  black,  and  hence  this  mode  cannot  be 
pursued  in  the  woods.  Small  fish  may  be  headed, 
cleaned  and  packed  in  a  jar,  which  is  then  filled  up  with 

13* 


298  CAMP    LIFE. 

vinegar  and  allspice  and  baked  all  night.  Next  day 
fresh  vinegar  is  added  to  make  up  for  the  evaporation, 
and  lard  is  run  in  to  exclude  the  air.  They  keep  well 
and  taste  excellent. 

An  air-tight  can  is  now  made,  with  a  cover  that  fits 
into  a  trough  which  can  be  filled  with  melted  rosin. 
This  may  be  used  over  and  over  again,  and  is  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  woods.  It  must  be  hermetically  sealed 
while  the  contents  are  boiling,  but  without  sealing  might 
be  advantageously  used  to  protect  sugar  and  such  things 
from  the  wet.  The  same  cover  is  applied  to  brown  ear- 
then jars,  which  are  well  suited  for  carrying  butter. 

Literature  will  be  found  a  great  resource  in  the  woods, 
and  although  Harper's  last  Monthly  may  be  permissible 
on  account  of  the  shortness  of  its  stories,  nothing  should 
be  taken  of  too  interesting  a  character,  lest  it  divert 
attention  from  the  main  object  in  view.  This  work  will 
be  found  extremely  safe. 

In  giving  the  foregoing  directions  it  is  assumed  that 
the  reader  intends  to  travel  with  canoes,  and  does  not 
expect  to  make  any  extensive  portages,  or,  as  they  are 
called  in  American,  "  carries ;"  for  if  the  men  are  ex- 
pected to  back  the  traps  for  any  considerable  distance, 
the  only  admissible  articles  are  fishing-tackle,  penny -royal, 
an  axe,  the  tents,  pork,  ship  biscuit,  tea,  sugar,  pepper, 
salt,  tea-kettle,  matches  and  a  frying-pan.  The  slightest 
weight  becomes  a  mountain  on  such  occasions,  and  it  will 
require  stout  muscles  to  carry  enough  for  their  own  sus- 
tenance. In  salmon-fishing  this  is  rarely  necessary, 
unless  a  man  would  be  an  explorer,  and  the  adventurous 
are  always  sufferers. 


CAMP    LIFE.  299 

As  it  is  possible  none  of  my  reader's  female  acquaint- 
ance have  ever  soiled  their  rosy  fingers — Heaven  save 
the  mark ! — with  domestic  cookery,  an  outline  of  the 
theory  of  that  science  may  be  advantageous.  There  are 
certain  well  known  rules  that  have  110  exceptions,  unless 
in  the  hands  of  a  genius,  and  which  apply  to  classes  and 
divisions  of  edibles.  For  instance,  a  little  salt  must  always 
be  thrown  into  the  water  before  anything  is  boiled  in  it. 
Thus,  again,  with  the  great  class  of  fried  cakes  :  milk 
thickened  with  flour,  and  an  egg  or  two,  and  a  pinch  of 
salt,  makes  griddle  :  add  squash,  boiled  and  mashed,  and 
you  have  squash  cakes  ;  employ  boiled  and  mashed  rice 
in  place  of  squash,  and  there  is  produced  the  delicate 
rice  cake ;  introduce  Indian-meal,  which  has  been  first 
scalded,  and  you  have  Indian  cakes.  This  class  of  cakes 
is  made  by  pouring  the  preparation,  in  large  tablespoon- 
fuls  at  a  time,  on  a  greased  griddle  or  frying-pan.  In 
broiling,  frying,  roasting,  baking,  or  stewing,  salt  and 
pepper  are  first  rubbed  on  the  article  to  be  cooked ;  in 
broiling,  baking,  or  roasting,  it  is  basted  with  butter  or 
grease,  and  in  frying  the  butter  is  first  put  in  the  pan 
and  heated.  Potatoes  boiled,  and  cut  thin  when  cold, 
are  delicious  fried.  In  stewing,  a  little  water  is  poured 
over  the  meat,  and  the  cooking  is  done  with  a  cover  on. 

Frying  is  with  butter  or  grease  alone  ;  stewing  with 
grease  and  a  little  water  ;  and  boiling  with  water  alone. 
You  determine  when  things  are  done  by  the  color  and 
trying  how  they  resist  a  fork.  An  excellent  chowder  is 
made  by  putting  pork,  fish,  cracker,  meat,  clams,  and 
anything  else  that  is  handy,  with  vegetables,  sufficient 
seasoning,  and  a  little  water,  and  stewing  it  well.  Stew- 


3CkO  CAMP    LIFE. 

.ing  can  hardly  be  carried  to  excess,  as  from  the  closeness 
of  the  vessel  the  nutritious  particles  cannot  escape. 

The  best  omelette  the  tyro  can  make,  and  excellent  it 
will  be  found,  is  by  frying  eggs,  which  are  first  beaten 
up  and  seasoned,  till  they  are  not  quite  firm.  They 
must  be  stirred  all  the  while  to  keep  them  from  burning, 
and  if  they  are  done  hard  are  ruined. 

A  white  sauce  is  made  of  flour  and  butter  well  mixed 
together,  stirred  into  hot  water  and  allowed  to  boil  for 

O  * 

fifteen  minutes  ;  a  hard  boiled  egg  may  be  chopped  up 
and  added  if  desired.  This  is  the  appropriate  sauce  for 
salmon.  A  brown  gravy  is  made  from  the  drippings  of 
the  meat,  and  some  burnt  sugar  or  browned  crumbs  add- 
ed and  warmed  up. 

The  following  is  an  accurate  recipe  for  griddle  cakes  : 
one  pint  of  boiled  rice,  three  tablespoonfuls  of  flour,  two 
tablespoonfuls  of  milk  and  two  eggs.  While  for  fried 
cakes  it  will  be  observed  that  flour,  milk  and  eggs  are 
used,  for  ordinary  cakes  flour,  butter  and  eggs  are  neces- 
sary, with  sugar  added  for  sweetening.  Thus,  a  good 
cake  is  made  of  five  cups  of  flour,  three  cups  of  sugar, 
two  cups  of  butter  and  four  eggs.  This  cake  must  be 
baked  slowly,  which  could  be  done  in  a  piece  of  birch 
bark  inclosed  in  heated  stones,  allowing  room  for  it  to 
rise. 

The  simplest  and  best  way  to  boil  a  salmon  is  to  slash 
him  on  the  sides  with  vertical  cuts  to  the  bone,  having 
previously  drawn,  opened  and  cleaned  him,  to  wash  him 
well  in  the  nearest  spring,  put  him  into  boiling  water 
sufficiently  salt  to  bear  an  egg,  and  cook  him  seven  or 
eight  minutes  to  every  pound  of  weight,  and  serve  him 


CAMP    LIFE.  301 

with  some  of  the  water  he  was  cooked  in  for  sauce.  The 
latter  may  be  thickened  with  flour  and  butter.  He 
should,  like  all  other  fish,  be  cooked  fresh. 

Broiled  fish,  or,  if  they  are  large,  slices  of  fish,  cook 
better  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  paper  oiled  ;  and  the  one- 
half  of  a  salmon  spread  out,  tacked  on  a  board  and  roast- 
ed by  a  hot  fire  is  excellent ;  and  in  cooking  small  fish 
suspended  by  a  twig  near  the  fire,  Frank  Forester  recom- 
mends that  a  small  stick  with  a  piece  of  pork  threaded 
on  it,  should  be  inserted  to  keep  the  belly  open,  and  a 
biscuit  placed  below  to  catch  the  drippings.  A  hot  fire 
will  cook  a  fish  thus  in  ten  minutes. 

To  bake  a  fish  he  is  wrapped  in  oiled  paper  or  birch 
bark,  and  placed  in  an  oven  built  of  stones  laid  in  a  hol- 
low, and  from  which  the  fire  has  just  been  removed, 
other  heated  stones  are  placed  above  him,  and  the  fire  is 
raked  back  over  the  whole. 

It  will  be  hardly  necessary  to  remark,  in  connection 
with  these  directions,  that  fish  must  be  cleaned  and  have 
the  gills  removed  and  be  well  washed  and  scaled  before 
they  can  be  cooked  ;  that  when  the  word  butter  is  used, 
and  my  reader  have  no  butter,  he  must  use  such  grease 
or  oil  as  he  may  have  ;  that  in  all  cases  he  can  add  such 
sauces  and  spices  to  his  condiments  as  he  may  relish  and 
possess.  Among  all  the  variety  of  prepared  sauces,  an- 
chovy for  salmon  and  Worcestershire  for  meats  are  the 
best,  but  lemon  alone  gives  an  excellent  flavor. 

To  bread  anything,  whether  it  be  fried  oysters  or  fried 
eels,  dip  them  in  the  yolk  of  egg  beaten  up,  and  then  in 
cracker  pounded  fine,  or  they  may  first  be  dipped  in  flour 
and  afterward  in  egg  and  cracker. 


302  CAMP    LIFE. 

Tea  is  made  by  pouring  a  little  hot  water  on  the  leaves 
and  allowing  it  to  draw  by  the  fire  for  ten  minutes  and 
then  filling  up  with  hot  water.  Coffee,  by  putting  the 
coffee,  mixed  witli  the  yolk  of  an  egg,  into  boiling  water 
and  allowing  it  to  boil  once — no  more,  on  your  life.  If 
you  do  not  wish  to  use  an  egg,  put  in  a  teaspoonful  of 
cold  water  immediately  on  taking  it  from  the  fire.  This 
is  done  to  clear  it.  Chocolate  is  made  by  melting  a  cake 
broken  into  small  pieces  in  warm  water,  adding  a  cup  of 
milk  after  it  is  perfectly  smooth,  and  boiling  for  twenty 
minutes.  An  excellent  tea  is  made  of  yellow  birch  bark. 

Bread,  especially  if  it  is  a  little  stale,  is  much  improved 
by  toasting,  which  should  be  done  by  approaching  it  close 
to  the  fire,  even  throwing  it  on  the  coals  and  burning  the 
outside  almost  black.  If  buttered  and  covered  with 
brown  sugar  and  eaten  hot  it  makes  an  excellent  dessert. 

If  salt  pork  is  to  be  broiled,  it  should  be  cut  thin,  and 
may  be  soaked  well,  in  water,  dipped  in  Indian-meal,  so 
as  to  bread  it,  and  then  broiled  or  fried  brown.  It  can 
be  used  in  soup  by  being  boiled  in  two  waters. 

Smoked  beef  is  good  if  stewed  a  few  minutes  with  a 
lump  of  butter  mixed  with  flour  and  enough  milk  to 
cover  the  whole,  which  may  be  seasoned  with  pepper. 
Fried  fish  that  has  become  cold  can  be  revived  in  the 
same  way  ;  the  flour  may  be  omitted  and  some  salt  must 
be  added.  • 

An  onion  may  be  boiled  in  bread  sauce,  and  removed 
before  serving,  or  pepper  may  be  added  ;  celery  chopped 
and  cooked  in  a  stew  or  sauce  adds  a  peculiarly  pleasant 
flavor.  Tough  meat  of  all  kinds  should  be  stewed,  and 
except  salt  pork,  meat  should  be  rarely  fried.  The  fore- 


CAMP    LIFE.  303 

going,  are  soon  acquired  by  practice,  and  experience  will 
suggest  many  valuable  alterations ;  but  they  are  all  the 
directions  necessary  to  make  camp  life  not  merely  com- 
fortable, but  by  the  aid  of  a  good  appetite  extremely 
pleasant.  Cookery  is  no  mean  science,  and  a  knowledge 
of  it  will  prove  interesting  and  advantageous  not  only 
in  the  wilderness,  but  so  long  as  Irish  cooks  shall  rule  our 
kitchens  and  ruin  our  digestions,  in  the  realms  of  civil- 
ization. 

To  unite  economy  in  space  and  weight  with  the  utmost 
amount  of  accommodation,  the  following  sized  tents  will 
be  found  to  answer  for  two  fisherman  and  five  guides  or 
even  four  fishermen. 

The  tent  of  the  gentlemen  should  be  four  cloths  deep, 
each  cloth  of  twenty-six  inches,  and  cut  twenty  feet  long, 
so  that  there  should  be  ten  feet  on  each  side  of  the  ridge- 
pole ;  the  wall  takes  about  three  feet,  at  the  upper  edge 
of  which  a  small  piece  is  tabled  in  where  the  bolt-rope 
passes,  to  shed  the  rain.  There  is  an  extra  strip  of  can- 
vas along  the  ridge,  with  two  small  grummets  in  each 
end,  inside  the  tent,  to  receive  the  poles ;  but  there  is  no 
bolt-rope  except  along  the  wall,  and  there  must  be  no 
cross  seams,  as  they  are  sure  to  leak.  A  shoulder  is  left 
on  the  poles,  which  are  thrust  into  the  grummets  and  a 
spreader  is  forced  up  between  them  and  sustained  as  a 
ridge-pole  by  a  notch  cut  in  each.  There  are  three  tent 
ropes  on  each  side,  with  a  stout  line  and  toggle,  or  but- 
ton where  they  join  the  tent,  to  trice  up  the  walls  in 
warm  weather ;  the  doors,  which  are  at  both  ends,  lap 
well  over,  and  are  secured  by  a  strong  galvanized  hook 
and  eye,  and  are  closed  with  strings.  Along  the  bottom 


304:  CAMP    LIFE. 

of  the  wall  are  rings  to  peg  it  down,  and  the  width,  is 
the  same  as  the  depth.  This  tent  sets  up  eight  feet  high, 
and  is  quickly  pitched  if  the  poles  are  retained,  which 
can  be  readily  done,  as  they  are  convenient  in  the  bottom 
of  the  canoe  to  keep  other  baggage  from  the  wet.  The 
size  may  be  diminished  to  eight  feet  square,  but  will  be 
found  rather  cramped,  especially  in  wet  weather,  when  the 
fisherman  is  more  or  less  compelled  to  stay  indoors,  and 
will  not  permit  of  what  is  often  desirable,  accommodat- 
ing a  visitor. 

For  the  men,  a  simple  strip  of  canvas  eight  feet  square, 
with  sloping  sides,  is  all  that  is  required.  In  fact,  in  cold 
weather  an  open  tent  with,  a  fire  in  front  is  preferable  to 
all  others,  and  can  be  kept  as  warm  as  an  oven.  A  Sib- 
ley  tent  has  many  advantages,  but  must  be  large,  and  is 
troublesome  to  transport.  In  cold  weather,  logs  should 
be  cut  down  and  laid  up  with  mud  like  a  hut,  or  boards 
driven  into  the  ground  close  together  to  form  the  foun- 
dation, and  the  tent  set  over  them.  It  will  be  warmer 
and  more  roomy. 

"Where  there  is  naught  to  be  shot,  and  as  little  to  be 
caught,  no  man  has  any  business  in  the  woods ;  but  as 
bad  marksmanship  or  scarcity  of  game  may  cause  the 
first,  or  a  rise  of  water  the  second,  it  is  well  to  know 
that  a  pound  of  biscuit  and  a  pound  of  pork  per  day  is 
all  that  a  man  requires  for  his  support.  A  fair  allowance 
however  would  be,  considering  it  merely  as  an  addition 
to  the  proceeds  of  the  gun  and  rod,  a  pound  of  biscuit 
or  bread,  and  half  a  pound  of  pork.  Where  flour  is 
taken  the  amount  of  bread  may  be  reduced ;  but  as  the 
staff  of  life  occasionally  becomes  wet  and  moldy,  it  is 


CAMP    LIFE.  305 

better  to  be  well  supplied.  Half  a  pound  of  solidified 
milk  will  last  one  man  ten  days,  a  pound  of  tea  thirty, 
and  half  a  pound  of  tobacco  one  week.  Eight  pounds 
of  brown  sugar,  the  same  of  butter,  a  bushel  of  potatoes, 
and  two  gallons  of  molasses  are  sufficient  for  two  anglers 
and  five  men  one  week.  It  is  not  customary  to  give 
men  milk,  sugar  or  coffee  ;  they  are  carried  only  for  the 
gentlemen,  and  the  above  calculations  are  made  on  that 
footing.  These  computations  may  be  relied  on,  and  will 
be  found  extremely  useful ;  although  the  luxuries  of  camp 
life  may  fail,  the  necessaries  must  not  be  exhausted. 
There  is  no  fun  in  having  to  send  a  couple  of  your  best 
men  fifty  miles  for  provisions,  when  salmon  are  rising  or 
a  long  journey  is  to  be  made.  Time  devoted  to  pleasure 
is  precious  ;  a  day  wasted  is  indeed  a  loss. 


And  now,  good  reader,  farewell.  In  looking  over  this 
book,  I  perceive  how  far  short  I  have  fallen  of  my  own 
expectations,  and  feel  how  greatly  I  must  have  disap- 
pointed yours.  Much  has  been  badly  said,  much  omit- 
ted, and  no  doubt  much  unintentionally  misstated. 
Opinions  differ,  and  experience  leads  to  contrary  results. 
There  are  game  fish,  and  modes  of  taking  them,  with 
which  doubtless  I  am  unacquainted,  and  yet  I  hope  you 
will  find  something  here  that  has  not  been  written  before. 
My  aim  has  been  to  induce  sportsmen  to  study  the  habits 
and  proper  designation  of  the  different  varieties  of  game 
they  pursue,  to  apply  the  appropriate  names  and  distin- 
guish the  various  species.  My  hope  is  to  elevate  their 


306 


CAMP    LIFE. 


purpose  above  the  mere  indulgence  of  that  peculiar 
innate  pleasure  experienced  in  the  chase,  and  at  the  same 
time,  if  possible,  to  press  upon  the  attention  of  natural- 
ists the  vast  assistance  they  might  obtain  from  their 
humbler  brethren  by  reducing  their  language  to  the 
standard  of  ordinary  comprehension ;  and  above  all,  to 
insist,  by  every  consideration  of  humanity,  upon  the 
absolute  necessity  of  preventing  the  cruel,  wanton,  and 
untimely  destruction  of  the  beautiful  inhabitants  of  our 
woods  and  waters.  These  have  been  my  objects ;  it  is 
for  you  to  judge  how  far  I  have  succeeded.  But,  reader, 
let  me  warn  you  :  neither  praise  nor  dispraise  overmuch. 
In  either  case  I  shall  write  another  book,  to  justify  the 
former  or  disprove  the  latter. 


APPENDIX. 


CAP.    LXII. 


AN   ACT   EESPECTING  FISHEKIES   AND   FISHING. 

Protection  to  Fisheries. 

1.  The  Governor  in  Council  may  grant  special  fishing  leases  and 
licenses  on  lands  belonging  to  the  Crown,  for  any  term  not  exceeding 
nine  years,  and  may  make  all  and  every  such  regulation  or  regu- 
lations as  may  be  found  necessary  or  expedient  for  the  better  man- 
agement and  regulation  of  the  Fisheries  of  the  Province. — 22  Y.  c. 
86,  s.  4. 

2.  The   Governor  may,   as   occasion   shall  require,  appoint  two 
Superintendents   of  Fisheries,   one  for  Upper  and  one  for  Lower 
Canada.     Four  Overseers  may  be  appointed  by  the  Commissioners 
of  Crown  Lands,  in  such  places,  and  in  such  divisions  of  territory,  as 
may  be  considered  necessary. — Ibid.  s.  5. 

5.  The  Governor  in  Council  may  cause  to  be  set  apart  any  river 
or  other  water  for  the  natural  or  artificial  propagation  of  salmon, 
trout  or  other  fish. — Ibid.  s.  8. 

6.  The  Governor  in  Council  may  grant  permission  to  fish  in  the 
rivers  within  the  King's  Posts. — Ibid.  s.  9. 

7.  Whoever  throws  overboard   ballast  in  any  river,  harbor  or 
roadstead,  where  fishing  is  carried  on.  or  the  remains  of  offal  of  fish, 
in  any  such  river,  or  within  three  miles  of  the  coast  of  the  mainland, 
or  of  any  island,  or  on  any  fishing-bank,  shall  incur  a  fine  not  exceed- 
ing eighty  dollars,  and  the  master  or  owner  of  such  vessel  or  boat, 
from  which  such  ballast  or  offal  of  fish  shall  have  been  thrown,  shall 
be  held  liable  for  every  such  offence :  Provided  always  that  it  shall 
be  lawful  for  any  person  to  bury  such  offal  of  figh  on  the  mainland 
or  any  island  at  a  distance  of  not  less  than  an  acre  from  the  beach 
thereof.— Ibid.  s.  11. 

807 


308  APPENDIX. 


8.  No  one  shall  anchor  near  the  shore  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
impede  the  throwing  and  hauling  of  seines,  or  the  setting  of  standing 
nets. — Ibid.  s.  12. 

9.  No  one  shall  set  standing  nets  in  such  a  manner  as  to  impede 
the  throwing  or  the  hauling  of  seines. — Ibid.  s.  13. 

10.  No  one  shall  set  seines  or  nets  in  such  a  manner  as  to  impede 
the  navigation  or  anchorage  in  any  hay,  harbor  or  roadstead,  or  other 
place  required  for  navigation. — Ibid.  s.  14. 

20.  No  one  shall  fish  for,  catch  or  kill  salmon  in  any  way  what- 
ever, between  the  first  day  of  August  and  the  first  day  of  March  in 
any  year ;  except  only  that  it  shall  be  lawful  to  fish  for  salmon  with 
a  rod  and  line,  in  the  manner  known  as  fly-surface-fishing,  from  the 
first  of  March  to  the  first  of  September  in  any  year,  in  Upper  or 
Lower  Canada. — Ibid.  s.  24. 

21.  No  one  shall  use  any  net,  or  take  salmon  in  any  way  what- 
ever, at  any  salmon-leap,  or  where  any  artificial  salmon  pass  shall 
have  been  constructed,  nor  in  any  pools  or  ponds  where  salmon  are 
wont  to  spawn. — Ibid.  s.  25. 

22.  Whoever  obstructs  the  main  channel  or  course  of  any  river, 
either  by  placing  therein  nets  or  fishing  apparatus  of  any  kind,  or 
any  obstacles  of  any  kind  whatever,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  salmon 
or  any  other  species  of  fish,  shall  thereby  incur  for  each  oifence  a 
fine  not  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  and  the  forfeiture  of  his  fishing 
apparatus ;  and  in  no  case  shall  the  said  channel  or  course  so  left 
open  be  less  than  one-third  of  the  whole  breadth  of  such  river. — 
Ibid.  s.  26. 

23-.  The  owner  of  any  dam  or  slide  where  fish  may  ascend,  shall, 
for  the  purpose  of  affording  a  passage  to  the  fish,  attach  and  main- 
tain to  each  dam  or  slide,  a  fish  way  of  such  form  and  dimensions  as 
shall  be  determined  by  the  Superintendent  of  Fisheries,  under  a 
penalty  of  four  dollars  for  each  day  on  which  he  shall  fail  so  to  do 
after  two  months'  notice  by  the  superintendent. — Ibid.  s.  27. 

24.  Any  salmon  taken  in  contravention  of  the  twentieth  section 
of  this  act,  shall  subject  all  parties  concerned  in  the  breach  of  the 
said  section,  whether  the  actual  transgressors  or  accessories,  to  a 
penalty  of  not  more  than  forty  dollars,  nor  less  than  twenty  dollars, 
together  with  the  forfeiture  of  the  fish,  canoe,  boat  or  other  vessel 
in  which  the  fish  may  have  been  placed,  or  to  imprisonment  for  a 
period  of  not  more  than  six  months,  nor  less  than  three  months. — 
Ibid.  s.  28. 

25.  The  meshes  of  any  net  used  for  the  taking  of  salmon  shall  not 
be  less  than  five  inches  in  extension,  knot  to  knot,  under  penalty 
and  on  pain  of  forfeiture  of  the  nets. — Ibid.  s.  29. 

26.  No  one  shall  fish  with  any  net  or  seine  whatever,  of  a  less 
sized  mesh  than  one  and  a  half  inches  on  the  square,  in  any  lake, 
river  or  bay,  or  in  any  of  the  waters  of  Upper  Canada. — Ibid.  s.  30. 

27.  No  one  shall  fish  for,  catch  or  kill  any  kind  of  trout  in  any 


APPEXDIX.  309 


way  whatever,  between  the  twentieth  of  October  and  the  first  of 
February  in  any  year,  in  Lower  Canada. — Hid.  s.  31. 

28.  No  one  shall  kill  any  kind  of  speckled  trout,  in  any  way  what- 
ever, between  the  twentieth  of  October  and  the  first  of  April  in  any 
year ;  nor  shall  any  speckled  trout  be  killed  at  any  time  by  means 
of  nets  or  seines  in  any  inland  lake,  river  or  stream  in  Upper 
Canada. — Hid.  s.  32. 

29.  No  one  shall  catch  trout,  by  means  of  nets  or  seines,  in  any 
lake  or  river,  or  at  the  outlet  or  inlet  of  any  lake,  or  in  any  river 
except  the  rjver  St.  Lawrence,  in  Lower  Canada. — Hid.  s.  33. 

30.  Except  in  the  Lakes  Huron  and  Superior,  no  one  shall  catch 
salmon-trout  between  the  fifteenth  day  of  November  and  the  first 
day  of  February. — Hid.  s.  34. 

31.  Except  as  •  aforesaid,  no  one  shall  catch  maskinonge,  pickerel 
or  black  bass,  between  the  fifteenth  of  March  and  the  fifteenth  day 
of  May.— Ibid,  s.  35. 

32.  No  one  shall  buy,  sell  or  have  in  possession  any  salmon,  sal- 
mon-trout, nor  any  kind  of  trout,  bass  nor  maskinonge,  taken  in 
contravention  of  this  act ;  and  any  fish  so  taken  may  be  declared 
forfeited  by  any  magistrate  whomsoever,  and  any  person  so  found  in 
possession  of  any  of  the  aforementioned  fish,  or  of  any  part  or  por- 
tion thereof,  shall  be  held  to  have  obtained  the  same  in  violation  of 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  except  only  upon  legal  proof  to  the  con- 
trary, which  proof  shall  devolve  wholly  upon  the  person  accused. — 
Ibid.  s.  36. 

33.  No   one   shall    construct  any  fish    pound    in    any  river. — • 
Hid.  s.  37. 

34.  The  Superintendent  of  Fisheries  may  grant  written  permission 
to  any  person  or  persons  who  may  be  desirous  of  obtaining  spawn 
for  b&ndfide  artificial  or  scientific  purposes,  to  fish  for  that  purpose, 
during  the  close  season ;    and  any  person  who  willfully  injures  or 
destroys  any  place  set  apart  for  the  artificial  propagation  of  fish, 
shall  incur  a  fine  of  not  less  than  twenty  dollars  nor  more  than  forty 
dollars.—  Ibid.  s.  38. 

36.  No  one  shall  throw  lime,  or  any  chemical  substance  or  drug, 
into  any  water  frequented  by  any  one  of  the  kind  of  fish  mentioned 
in  this  act,  and  any  person  found  guilty  of  having  thrown  lime  or  any 
other  chemical  substance  or  drug  in  such  waters,  shall  be  subjected  to 
a  penalty  of  not  less  than  twenty  dollars  and  not  more  than  forty 
dollars  for  each  offence. — Ibid.  s.  40. 

White-fish  in  the  Rivers  Niagara,  Detroit  and  St.  Glair. 

47.  Any  person  who  uses  or  employs,  or  causes  to  be  used  or 
employed,  any  seine  or  other  nets  of  a  greater  length  than  fifty 
fathoms,  for  the  taking  of  white-fish  in  any  of  the  rivers  Detroit, 
Saint  Glair,  or  Niagara,  within  Upper  Canada,  shall,  for  every  such 


310  APPENDIX. 


offence,  forfeit  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars. — 3  W.  4,  c.  29,  s.  1. 
22  V.  c.  86,  s.  30. 

48.  Any  person  found  fishing  for  white-fish  in  either  of  the  said 
rivers  within  Upper  Canada,  with  seines,  gill-nets  or  other  nets,  on 
the  first  day  of  the  week,  called  Sunday,  shall  forfeit  for  every  such 
offence  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars.— 3.  W.  4,  c.  29,  s.  2. 

White-fish  in  Upper  Canada. 

49.  Any  person  who  attempts  to  divert  the  natural  progress  or 
running  of  the  white-fish  within  Upper  Canada,  by  shingling  or  other 
device,  shall  forfeit  for  every  such  offence  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
dollars,  or  be  imprisoned,  not  exceeding  three  months,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  court.— 3  W.  4,  c.  29,  s.  3. 

50.  All  forfeitures  incurred  under  the  three  last  preceding  sections 
of  this  act  may  be  recovered  by  action  of  debt,  with  costs  of  suit, 
before  any  court  having  competent  jurisdiction  ;  one  moiety  thereof 
to  the  person  who  sues  for  the  same,  and  the  other  moiety  to  be  paid 
into  the  hands  of  the  Eeceiver  General. — 3  "W.  4,  c.  29,  s.  5. 


CROWN  LANDS  DEPARTMENT. 

FISHERIES. 

Toronto,  20th  December,  1858. 

Pursuant  to  certain  provisions  of  the  statute  22d  Viet.  cap.  86,  the 
Governor  General  in  council  has  been  pleased  to  adopt  the  fol- 
lowing Regulations  for  Salmon  and  Sea-trout  Fisheries  in  Lower 
Canada : 

By -Law  A. — In  agreement  with  the  intent  and  meaning  of  the  4th 
and  7th  sections  of  the  Fishery  Act,  it  is  hereby  declared  that  hence- 
forth the  Crown,  for  all  practical  purposes,  resumes  and  reeenters 
formally  into  possession  of  all  fishing  stations  for  salmon  and  sea- 
trout  appertaining  thereto,  in  Lower  Canada,  and  that  no  claim  by 
priority  or  by  reason  of  past  occupation  of  any  of  these  places,  shall 
hereinafter  exist,  and  that  any  party  or  parties  continuing  to  occupy 
and  use  any  net-fishery  for  salmon  or  sea-trout  without  obtaining 
lease  or  license  therefor  under  authority  from  the  Crown,  shall,  after 
previous  notice,  become  liable  to  such  pains  and  penalties  as  are 
imposed  by  the  aforesaid  act — saving  moreover,  all  other  recourse  in 
like  cases  provided  by  law. 

B. — Neither  stake-nets,  drift-nets,  gill-nets,  float  or  stell-nets, 
scoop-nets,  seines,  weirs,  nor  other  self-acting  machine  whatsoever, 


APPENDIX. 


shall  be  used  within  the  course  of  any  river  or  stream  frequented 
chiefly  by  salmon  and  sea-trout,  at  a  greater  distance  from  the  mouth 
thereof  than  the  usual  mark  of  tidal  floods,  or  inside  of  such  other 
actual  limit  as  may  be  assigned  in  the  field  to  each  estuary  holding 
by  the  Superintendent  of  Fisheries  for  Lower  Canada,  or  by  the  sti- 
pendiary magistrate  in  charge  of  the  government  vessel  for  the 
protection  of  fisheries. 

C. — All  nets,  or  other  lawful  appliances  for  the  capture  of  salmon 
and  sea-trout,  shall  be  placed  within  the  estuary  fishings  at  distances 
of  not  less  than  200  yards  apart,  the  interval  so  designated  to  mean 
along  either  side  of  the  stream,  and  such  measurement  to  leave  the 
space  clear  from  any  net  on  one  side  to  another  net  upon  the  oppo- 
site shore,  without  separate  intermediate  nets,  or  other  device,  being 
set  anywhere  therein. 

D. — The  Superintendent  of  Fisheries  for  Lower  Canada,  or  the 
stipendiary  magistrate  in  command  of  the  government  vessel  for  the 
protection  of  fisheries,  may  prescribe,  either  by  written  or  published 
instruction,  or  on  sight,  the  open  space  between  nets  to  be  set  in 
bays,  and  elsewhere  along  the  coast. 

E. — At  the  outside  of  the  chamber  and  in  the  pound  of  every  set 
or  stake-net  for  the  capture  of  salmon  and  sea-trout,  there  shall  be 
maintained  a  flap  or  "door"  at  least  ten  inches  square,  which  must 
be  left  open,  affording  free  egress  and  passage  to  salmon  and  trout, 
from  sundown  on  Saturdays  until  sunrise  on  Mondays. 

F. —All  other  persons  are.  forbidden  to  take  fish  of  any  kind,  and 
in  any  manner,  within  limits  covered  by  leases  or  licenses  from  the 
Crown,  except  by  special  permission  of  the  lessees  or  licentiates. 

{jr. — The  fishing  for,  taking,  and  killing  of  any  salmon  or  sea-trout 
by  aid  of  torch-light  or  other  artificial  light,  and  by  means  of  spears, 
harpoon  (negog),  jigger-hooks,  or  grapnel,  is  hereby  absolutely 
forbidden. 

H. — Indians  may,  for  their  own  bond,  fide  use  and  consumption, 
fish  for,  catch  or  kill  salmon  and  trout  by  such  means  as  are  next 
above  prohibited  during  the  months  of  May,  June  and  July,  but 'only 
upon  waters  not  then  leased,  licensed  or  reserved  by  the  Crown ; 
provided  always  that  each  and  every  Indian  thus  exempted  shall  ho 
at  all  times  forbidden  to  sell,  barter  or  give  away  any  salmon  and 
trout  so  captured  or  killed  in  the  manner  hereinbefore  described. 

/. — The  receipt,  gift,  purchase,  sale  and  possession  by  any  person 
or  persons  other  than  Indians  of  any  salmon  or  trout  which  may 
have  been  speared  or  taken  as  aforesaid,  shall  be  punishable  accord- 
ing to  law ;  and  every  fish  so  found  or  had  in  violation  of  this  rule, 
shaL  become  forfeited  and  disposable  as  the  law  directs. 

J. — No  fishing  shall  be  allowed  in  any  water  set  apart  by  the 
Crown  for  purposes  of  natural  or  artificial  breeding  of  salmon  and 
trout,  except  under  express  sanction  from  the  Superintendent  of 
Fisheries  for  Lower  Canada. 


312  APPENDIX. 


JT.— Hereafter,  no  slabs  or  edgings,  or  other  mill  rubbish,  shall  be 
drifted  awaste,  or  be  suffered  to  drift  awaste,  into  any  salmon  and 
sea-trout  rivers  or  streams  in  Lower  Canada. 

L. — For  any  breach  of  the  foregoing  Eegtilations  the  penalty 
attached  shall  be  as  declared  in  the  42d  section  of  the  statute  22d 
Viet.,  cap.  86. 

The  publication  of  the  present  By-laws  in  both  the  French  and 
English  languages,  in  the  Official  Gazette,  shall  be  sufficient  notice  to 
give  legal  effect. 

P.  M.  VAXKOTJGIINET, 

Commissioner. 


CEO  WIST  LANDS  DEPARTMENT. 

FISHERIES  BRANCH. 

Quebec,  IQth  May,  1860. 

Pursuant  to  certain  provisions  of  the  statute  22  Viet.  cap.  62,  Con- 
solidated Statutes  of  Canada,  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
General  in  council  has  been  pleased  to  adopt  the  following 
Fishery  Regulations  for  Upper  Canada: 

By-Law  No.  1. — The  Crown  having,  for  the  purposes  of  the  Act 
22d  Viet.  cap.  62,  Consolidated  Statutes  of  Canada,  practically 
resumed  and  reentered  formally  into  possession  of  all  fishing  stations 
within  the  Province  of  Canada,  it  is,  pursuant  to  the  said  statute, 
further  provided  that  the  following  Regulations  shall  hereinafter 
apply  to  the  fisheries  of  Upper  Canada,  and  any  person  or  persons, 
continuing  to  occupy  or  use,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  such  net-fish- 
ing without  lease  from  the  Crown,  shall  become  liable  to  the  pains 
and  penalties  imposed  by  the  Fisheries  Act — saving  moreover  all 
other  recourse  in  like  cases  provided  by  law. 

No.  2. — The  use  of  pound-nets  is  hereby  prohibited. 

No.  3. — It  is  forbidden  to  fish  for,  capture  or  kill  fish  by  means  of 
spears ;  except  only  by  Indians. 

'No.  4. — No  net  or  other  device  shall  be  so  placed  as  entirely  to 
obstruct  the  passage  of  fish  into  and  from  their  accustomed  resorts 
for  the  purposes  of  spawning  and  increasing  their  species. 

No.  5. — Inlets  and  outlets  around  Burlington  Bay  and  Dundas 
Marsh  shall  be  deemed  to  be,  for  the  application  of  the  Fisheries 
Act,  waters  forming  part  of  the  said  bay  and  marsh,  as  described  in 
section  23  of  the  said  statute. 

No.  6. — No  fishing  shall  be  allowed  in  any  water  which  may  have 
been  leased  or  set  apart  by  the  Crown  for  natural  or  artificial  pro- 


APPENDIX.  313 


pagation  of  fish,  except  by  express  sanction  of  a  fishery  officer,  or 
officers. 

No.  7. — All  other  persons  are  forbidden  to  take  fish,  for  purposes 
of  trade,  within  the  limits  covered  by  leases  from  the  Crown— except 
only  by  written  permission  of  the  lessees. 

No.  8. — The  receipt,  gift,  purchase,  sale  or  possession  of  any  fish 
had  in  contravention  of  these  Eegulations  shall  be  punishable  accord- 
ing to  law ;  and  the  article  so  had  and  all  materials  so  unlawfully 
used  therefor,  shall  become  subject  to  forfeiture  and  disposal  as  the 
law  directs. 

No.  9. — Hereafter  no  slabs  or  edgings,  or  other  mill  rubbish,  shall 
be  sent  adrift  in  any  river  or  stream  which  may  have  been  leased  or 
reserved  by  the  Crown  for  propagation,  or  where  fishways  have  been 
erected. 

No.  10. — For  any  and  every  breach  of  the  foregoing  Kegulations 
the  penalty  attached  shall  be  as  declared  by  the  aforesaid  statute — 
saving  moreover  all  other  recourse  in  like  cases  provided  by  law. 

The  first  publication  of  the  present  By-laws  in  both  the  English 
and  French  languages,  in  the  Canada,  Gazette,  shall  be  sufficient 
notice  to  give  legal  effect ;  and  the  production  of  a  copy,  purporting 
to  be  printed  by  the  queen's  printer,  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence 
of  every  such  Regulation,  and  that  it  is  in  force  as  law. 

And  each  contravention  of  any  of  the  aforesaid  By-laws  may  be 
stated  as  an  offence  against  the  Fisheries  Act. 

P.  M.  YANKOUGHNET, 

Commissioner. 


STRAITS  OE  RIVERS  NIAGARA,  DETROIT, 
AND  SAINT  CLAIR. 

ACT    3   WILLIAM   IY.    CAP.    29. 

ABSTEAOT. 

SEC.  I.'— It  is  forbid  to  use,  or  cause  to  be  used,  any  seine  or  other 
net  for  the  capture  of  white-fish,  in  the  straits  or  rivers  Detroit, 
Saint  Clair  and  Niagara,  of  greater  length  than  fifty  fathoms ;  under 
forfeiture  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds. 

II. — It  is  forbid  to  fish  in  the  said  straits  or  rivers,  with  seines, 
gill-nets,  or  other  nets,  on  the  first  day  of  the  week,  called  Sunday  ; 
under  penalty,  for  every  such  offence,  of  fifty  pounds. 

III. — It  is  forbid  to  divert  the  natural  progress  or  running  of 
white-fish,  by  shingling  or  other  device ;  upon  penalty  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  pounds,  or  imprisonment. 

14 


314  APPENDIX. 

IV.— Kepealed. 

V. — It  is  provided  that  one  moiety  of  the  forfeitures  incurred 
under  this  Act  shall  be  applied  to  the  public  uses  of  the  province, 
and  the  other  moiety  to  whomsoever  shall  have  sued  out  such 
complaint. 


BURLINGTON    BAY. 

ACT  6  WILLIAM  IY.  CAP.  15. 

ABSTEACT. 

SEO.  I. — Repealing  clause. 

II. — It  is  unlawful  to  draw  any  seine  or  other  net  in  Burlington 
Bay ;  except  at  a  distance  of  one-half  mile  from  the  land  at  the  out- 
let thereof. 

III. — It  is  illegal  at  any  time  to  set  gill-nets  in  the  waters  of  said 
bay,  or  to  use  any  device  whatsoever,  so  as  to  prevent  the  free  pass- 
age of  fish  to  and  from  the  aforesaid  bay. 

IV. — For  each  offence  against  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  the 
offender  shall  incur  a  tine  of  not  more  than  five  pounds  nor  less  than 
ten  shillings,  and  in  default  of  payment,  will  be  imprisoned;  one 
moiety  of  fine  to  be  paid  to  the  Crown,  and  the  other  moiety  to 
complainant. 


DAMS  OF  FISH  PONDS. 

ACT  4  &  5  VICT.  CAP.  26. 

ABSTEACT. 

SEO.  XV. — And  be  it  enacted,  that  if  any  person  shall  unlawfully 
and  maliciously  break  down,  or  otherwise  destroy,  the  dam  of  any 
fish  pond,  or  of  any  water  which  shall  be  private  property,  or  in 
which  there  shall  be  any  private  right  of  fishery,  with  intent  thereby 
to  take  or  destroy  any  of  the  fish  in  such  pond  or  water,  or  so  as 
thereby  to  cause  the  loss  or  destruction  of  any  of  the  fish,  or  shall 
unlawfully  and  maliciously  put  any  lime  or  other  noxious  material  in 
any  such  pond  and  water,  with  intent  thereby  to  destroy  any  of  the 
fish  therein,  or  shall  unlawfully  and  maliciously  break  down  or  other- 
wise destroy  the  dam  of  any  mill-pond,  every  such  offender  shall  be 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  being  convicted  thereof,  shall  be  pun- 
ished accordingly. 


APPENDIX.  315 


FISHING  ON  SUNDAY. 

ACT  8  VIOT.  CAP.  45. 

ABSTRACT. 

SEC.  III. — Prohibits  all  fishing  and  shooting  on  Sundays,  under 
penalty  not  to  exceed  ten  pounds,  nor  be  less  than  five  shillings  and 
costs. 


MR.    WHITCHER'S    REPORT. 

To  THE  HON.  P.  M.  VAKKOUGHNET, 

Commissioner  of  Crown  Lands,  etc. 

Sir — Your  directions  of  the  17th  of  May  last,  honored  me  with 
the  service  of  inspecting  and  taking  inventories  of  certain  public 
properties  within  the  territory  known  as  "The  King's  Posts,"  pre- 
paratory to  their  resumption  by  government  at  the  expiry  of  lease 
with  the  Hon.  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  Obedient  to  which  I  have 
made  a  personal  and  minute  inspection  of  the  several  premises  with 
the  view  of  ascertaining  their  actual  state.  The  results  of  such  exa- 
mination, and  other  information  affecting  their  delivery  and  accept- 
ance, as  between  the  Company  and  the  Crown,  form  the  subject  of 
various  special  communications  and  of  a  General  Report  already 

addressed  to  the  Department. 

*  *  *.#  *  *  *  # 

The  river  Marguerite  discharges  a  large  volume  of  water,  and  in 
the  tidal  portion  affords  tolerable  salmon  fishery.  The  lower  course 
is  much  broken  by  abrupt  falls,  and  the  fish  not  ascending  the 
stream  to  the  more  highly  aerated  waters  of  its  sources,  are  ill- 
shapen  and  coarse,  and  but  of  middling  size.  The  spawning-places 
swarmed  with  salmon  fry.  A  trifling  outlay  in  the  construction  of 
stone  basin  steps  would  overcome  the  main  obstacles  to  the  ascent 
of  salmon  along  this  stream. 

The  river  Pentecost  is  smaller,  and  has  a  high  fall  quite  inaccessi- 
ble to  fish,  some  three  miles  from  its  mouth,  where  the  bottom  is 
soft  and  muddy,  and  the  shores  clayey,  which  peculiarities  probably 
deter  salmon  from  entering  it.  In  the  entrance,  and  for  upward  of 
a  league  along  the  St.  Lawrence  bank  westward,  there  is  excellent 
sea  trout  fishing  for  nets.  The  trout  reach  four  pounds'  weight,  and 
are  well  flavored.  They  take  the  artificial  fly  and  bait  with  great 
avidity  at  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide,  particularly  inside  the  embou- 
chure. 


316  APPENDIX. 


Stress  of  weather  compelled  me  to  advance  from  here  to  Trinity 
Bay,  without  exploring  the  river  Calumet,  where  I  am  informed 
there  once  was  an  abundance  of  salmon. 

There  are  several  fair  salmon,  and  many  good  sea  trout  fishing- 
stands  on  this  part  of  the  coast. 

The  Trinity  Eiver  I  consider  a  valuable  stream.  Of  the  estuary 
portion  I  shall  not  now  speak,  having  described  its  fishings,  etc.,  in 
the  previous  season's  report.  An  almost  uninterrupted  passage  for 
near  forty  miles  admits  salmon  into  a  part  of  this  stream  where  it 
widens  and  is  divided  by  small  islands.  Here  seems  to  be  the  breed- 
ing-ground ;  and  it  is  so  distant  from  any  place  where  fish  taken 
could  be  disposed  of,  and  the  labor  of  navigating  it  with  a  canoe, 
even  lightly  laden,  is  so  formidable  that  salmon  may  again  multiply 
there  in  primeval  quiet.  Hitherto  the  estuary  has  been  over-netted, 
and  the  river  barred  across  by  gill-nets.  Hence' the  decline  of  the 
fishery.  Now,  however,  fair  play  is  insured,  and  the  natural  conse- 
quence will  be  a  rapid  restoration  of  the  river  to  its  pristine  cele- 
brity. 

Some  three  leagues  west  are  the  forks  of  the  famous  Godbout. 
Here,  too,  the  spawning-beds  in  the  northeast  branch  are  admirably 
sheltered  and  spacious.  The  northwest  arm  communicates  through 
a  long  deep  lake  with  one  of  the  feeders  of  the  Manicouagan  River. 
The  Godbout  salmon  breed  also  in  a  north  tributary  of  this  lake ; 
and  from  appearance  it  might  be  inferred  that  they  lie  also  within 
the  main  outlet.  Were  spearing  everywhere  prohibited,  and  reason- 
able netting  alone  allowed,  there  cannot  be  a  doubt  that  the  supply 
of  salmon  from  this  river  would  in  a  few  years  become  almost  inex- 
haustible. Indeed,  when  we  recollect  the  dire  havoc  and  riotous 
abuse  of  fishing  which  this  beautiful  stream  has  already  suffered, 
nothing  save  a  knowledge  of  its  extensive  and  fine  breeding-places 
could  enable  us  to  account  for  the  present  existence  of  any  remnant 
of  former  abundance.  There  is  encouragement  in  the  hope  that  pro- 
tective measures  strictly  enforced  will  fast  multiply  and  improve  the 
run  of  salmon  resorting  to  this  rich  river. 

******** 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  touching  upon  the  subject  of 
spearing  by  Indians. 

The  practice  of  capturing  salmon  by  torchlight  and  spears  is  justly 
held  to  be  most  pernicious.  Employed,  as  it  almost  invariably  is,  at 
a  time  when  the  waters  of  each  river  are  lowest  and  clearest,  whilst 
the  salmon  are  balked  at  the  base  of  steep  falls,  awaiting  the  next 
freshet,  and  congregate  during  sultry  nights  near  the  mouths  of  lit- 
tle rivulets  emptying  into  the  main  stream,  or  loiter  about  the  tails 
of  pools,  spear-fishing  involves  excessive  slaughter.  Sometimes  in 
the  course  of  one  night  as  many  salmon  will  be  thup  killed  and 
maimed  as  an  ordinary  net-fishery  along  the  coast,  or  in  the  estua- 
ries, can  capture  throughout  the  regular  fishing  season.  Practised 


APPENDIX.  317 


during  Autumn  and  periods  of  reproduction,  as  is  still  more  frequently 
the  case,  it  becomes  indescribably  bad — it  is  the  crowning  act  of 
extirpation.  The  luckless  fish  are  then  killed  at  a  stage  which  makes 
the  bare  feature  of  destroy al  in  the  highest  degree  deplorable. 
They  have  won  their  devious  way  from  the  luscious  pastures  of  old 
ocean,  through  labyrinths  of  nets  and  a  multitude  of  watery  perils. 
Urged  onward  by  strong  instincts,  they  have  surmounted  incredible 
difficulties,  and  achieved  marvels  of  adventurous  travel.  They  are 
now  arrived  at  nature1s  free  hospitals  of  piscary  lying-in.  The 
water-way  by  which  they  came  is  in  many  parts  impassably  shoal, 
and  no  more  heavy  breeders  can  reach  the  same  high  grounds,  or 
supply  their  places,  for  that  year  at  least.  And  after  all,  lean  from 
exertion  and  thin  food ;  dark  and  slimy  from  the  physical  drain  and 
unhealthy  action  incident  to  the  procreative  state,  perhaps  sluggish 
and  heavy  with  thousands  of  ova,  or  busied  in  the  exhaustive  labor 
and  anxious  cares  of  depositing  their  prolific  burden,  they  are  ruth- 
lessly slain  by  the  spear.  With  every  dead  or  wounded  fish  there 
perish  in  embryo  from  ten  to  thirty,  forty,  fifty,  even  as  high  as 
sixty  thousand.  Spawners  and  milters  both  suffer.  Is  it,  then,  pos- 
sible to  exaggerate  the  ruinous  consequences  of  such  improvi- 
dence ? 

There  are  also  other  features  in  this  practice  contributing  to  the 
waste  and  injustice  which  it  so  entails.  The  salmon  taken  by  spear 
are,  comparatively  speaking,  worthless  as  a  marketable  commodity. 
But,  being  easily  taken,  the  captors  willingly  dispose  of  them  at 
miserable  prices,  and  in  barter  for  the  cheapest  kinds  of  goods  ;  for 
rusty  pork  and  molded  biscuits.  The  wrong  to  the  public,  of  suffer- 
ing the  richest  and  finest  fish  in  Canadian  waters — the  precious 
capital  of  our  rivers — to  be  thus  traded  in  when  almost  valueless, 
and  under  circumstances  that  admit  only  of  unscrupulous  fisher- 
men and  dishonest  traders  deriving  some  mean  benefits  thereby,  is 
obvious.  These  dealers  adroitly  scarify  the  ugly  portions,  disguise 
their  ill-conditioned  bargain  by  dry  salting,  or  hot  pickle.  atLd  con- 
cealing the  unwholesome  fish  at  the  bottom  of  the  tubs,  or  dispers- 
ing them  among  other  sound  pieces,  thus  palm  them  off  upon  the 
public.  Costing  little  at  prime,  the  sale  is  a  ready  one  below  aver- 
age market  price.  If  consumers  were  but  once  to  see  a  few  speci- 
mens of  unseasonable  salmon  struck  by  the  spear,  they  would  remem- 
ber the  loathsome  sight,  and  rather  than  venture  the  chances  of 
again  eating  such  deleterious  food,  would  eschew  salmon  altogether. 

If  the  river  fisheries  become  exhausted  through  this  custom,  the 
whole  public  suffers,  because  these  streams  are  the  nurseries  which 
breed  supplies  and  furnish  wealth  to  the  'longshore  and  estuary  fish- 
ings. Besides,  to  tolerate  it  must  always  expose  crown  lessees  to  the 
risk  of  having  their  limits  suddenly  deteriorated  by  the  bold  en- 
croachments of  spearers.  To  punish  them,  even,  cannot  restore  the 
damage.  Years,  indeed,  must  elapse  ere  the  pirated  rivers  can  reco* 


318  APPENDIX. 


ver  from  the  effects  of  successive  or  casual  devastations.  And 
while  there  remains  a  loophole  for  escape,  as  between  the  Indians 
and  abetting  traders,  active  temptations  on  either  side  will  drive 
them  to  calculate  their  mutual  chances  of  evading  the  law. 

The  qualified  exemption  of  Indians  under  the  Fishery  Regulations 
arose,  I  feel  assured,  from  motives  humane  and  considerate.  Those 
considerations  doubtless  were  influenced  by  arguments  in  support 
of  such  exception,  drawn  from  the  apparent  necessities  of  Indian 
life.  Experience  dissipates  this  cause  of  sympathy.  It  proves  that 
the  Montaignais,  Micmacs,  Naskapis  and  Metifs,  seldom  spear  sal- 
mon in  any  considerable  quantities  for  present  subsistence ;  and  to 
smoke,  or  dry,  or  pickle  them  for  winter  use,  never.  They  go  to 
the  salting-vats  of  the  nighest  trader — pork,  tea,  sugar,  tobacco,  and 
sometimes  spirits,  principally  returning  to  the  wigwam  in  exchange. 
I,  of  course,  speak  of  the  Indians  whilst  near  the  St.  Lawrence,  whe- 
ther from  the  interior  or  residing  by  turns  near  the  seaboard.  It  is 
quite  a  mistaken  notion  that  they  kill  and  cure  salmon  for  provision- 
ing the  inland  hunt. 

The  experienced  missionary,  Pere  Arnaud,  in  his  evidence  to  tho 
Indian  Commissioners,  says,  "These  Indians  care  for  nothing  but 
hunting  and  fishing."  Indeed  I  think  that,  as  regards  several  of 
them,  the  native  love  of  excitement  in  the  chase  has  somewhat  to 
do  with  their  pertinacious  pursuit  of  salmon  by  spears  and  flam- 
beaux. It  is  a  passion  among  some  of  the  bands  ;  and  I  must  admit 
the  habit  has  peculiar  fascinations,  and  to  many  it  is  strangely  excit- 
ing. Nothing  can  exceed  the  wild  excitement  with  which  these 
men  pursue  it.  The  sombre  night-scene  of  the  forest  river  seems  to 
delight  them.  The  elder  man  occupies  the  stern  of  the  canoe,  while 
the  younger  takes  "  the  post  of  honor  "  forward.  The  murmur  of 
waterfalls  and  rapids,  drown  those  exclamatory  Ughs !  and  the  fre- 
quent splash  that  would  else  disturb  the  pervading  stillness.  "With 
steady,  stealthy  speed  the  light  birchen  boat  enters  the  rapid,  and 
cutting  through  its  white  waters  glides  smoothly  over  the  fall  and 
into  the  "  tail "  of  the  pool  above,  or  across  the  quiet  "  reach."  The 
blazing  torch,  stuck  in  a  cleft  stake  and  leaning  over  the  bow  of  the 
canoe,  glares  with  dazzling  lightness.  The  flame  and  shadow, 
swayed  by  ripples,  conceal  the  spearers'  forms,  and  bewilder  the 
doomed  salmon.  Like  moths,  they  sidle  toward  the  fatal  light ; 
their  silvery  sides  and  amber-colored  eyeballs  glisten  through  the 
rippled  water.  The  dilated  eyes,  the  expanding  nostrils  and  com- 
pressed lips  of  the  swarthy  canoemen,  fitly  picture  their  eager  and 
excited  mood.  A  quick,  deadly  aim,  a  sudden  swirl,  and  those  mo- 
mentary convulsive  wriggles  tell  the  rest.  The  aquatic  captive,  with 
blood  and  spawn,  and  slime  and  entrails,  besmear  the  inside  of  the 
canoe.  Often  the  quarry  is  transfixed  with  wonderful  precision  and 
instantly  killed,  the  spinal  marrow  being  pierced  by  the  barb,  and 
the  strong  springy  tines  of  the  spear  paralyzing  in  their  sharp  pinch 


APPENDIX.  319 


the  whole  muscular  system,  the  fin-rays  spread  in  a  feeble  quiver, 
and  the  once  powerful  fish  dies  literally  without  a  struggle.  During 
a  single  night  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  salmon  may  he  thus  slaugh- 
tered, and  half  as  many  more  lacerated  in  their  efforts  to  escape, 
the  pools  at  such  seasons  being  too  shallow  to  afford  certain  safety 
in  retreat.  The  bed  of  coarse  boughs,  the  chill  and  hungry  awaking 
at  sunrise,  the  mixture  of  peril  and  fagging  which  form  the  return 
down  a  swift  stream,  broken  by  falls,  and  rocks,  and  rapids,  with 
here  and  there  a  tedious  portage,  over  which  several  hundred  pounds 
of  fish,  and  bruised  and  blistered  canoes  must  be  transported — all 
these  exertions  appear  but  natural  to  Indians,  and  not  worthy  of 
comparison  as  against  the  fruits  of  so  much  toil,  converted  at  last 
into  six,  eight,  or  ten  dollars'  worth  of  provisions  and  store  goods, 
or  perhaps  a  demijohn  of  home-made  rum.  Speared  salmon  are 
sold  to  traders  at  their  own  price,  as  the  deteriorating  mode  of  cap- 
ture so  much  depreciates  the  fish.  The  illegality  of  the  purchase  or 
exchange,  also,  often  is  pleaded  as  a  risk  for  which  a  further  propor- 
tional deduction  in  the  value  of  barter  must  be  made. 

That  the  Indians  must  suffer  starvation  by  being  deprived  of  the 
"  native  liberty  "  to  ruin  our  salmon  fisheries,  is  a  very  flimsy  apo- 
logy on  the  part  of  those  who  still  desire  to  perpetuate  so  flagrant 
an  abuse.  With  the  exception  of  some  families  or  Naskapis,' who 
have  imprudently  left  their  upland  hunting-grounds  and  wandered 
toward  the  rocky  coasts,  where  sickness  soon  debilitates  and  cuts  off 
whole  encampments,  the  lower  St.  Lawrence  Indians  do  not  endure 
privations  similar  to  many  of  the  tribes  in  western  Canada.  This 
comparative  immunity  is  certainly  due  in  great  measure  to  the  pater- 
nal solicitude  exercised  by  the  exemplary  missionaries  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church.  Almost  total  abstinence  from  "  fire  water  "  is  not 
the  least  of  a  beneficent  improvement  resulting  from  these  self-deny- 
ing missions.  Were  there  not  another  salmon  to  be  caught  between 
Quebec  and  Labrador,  the  extinction  could  not  occasion  to  Indians 
one  tithe  of  the  misery  depicted  by  persons  whose  interest  or  preju- 
dice it  is  to  excite  a  sympathetic  feeling  favorable  to  the  continu- 
ance of  facilities  for  spearing.  I  make  no  mere  vague  assertion ;  it 
is  a  deduction  from  practical  observations  and  inquiry.  The  Indians 
themselves  know  this,  and  it  makes  them  all  the  more  reckless  and 
disregardful  of  the  future  in  their  ravages.  Trout  are  plentiful  all 
along  the  coast,  and  the  inner  lakes  swarm  with  them.  Every  bay 
and  bank  teems  with  codfish.  The  rod  and  line  and  bait  will  catch 
both  in  hundreds.  Hooks  and  lines  are  cheap  as  spearing  imple- 
ments. Seals  are  plenty  everywhere.  The  product  of  one  seal  will 
buy  the  fishing-gear  of  a  family  for  the  entire  year.  But,  it  is 
argued,  they  need  por|j:  and  flour,  tea  and  sugar,  guns  and  ammuni- 
tion, which  can  be  bought  with  salmon  carcasses.  Yes,  and  all 
of  these  articles  can  be  better  had  in  exchange  for  trout,  cod,  seal- 
oil,  skins  and  furs.  Birch  canoes,  baskets,  and  other  manufactures, 


320 


APPENDIX. 


find  rapid  sale.  Canoes  bring  from  eight  to  twenty-four  dollars 
apiece,  in  cash.  Necessity,  therefore,  is  simply  an  excuse,  equally  de- 
ceptious  and  unfounded.  It  is  the  habitual  indolence  of  most  of 
these  Indians  which  lies  at  the  root  of  the  matter.  It  ties  them 
down  to  frequented  spots,  where  inducements  held  out  by  cunning 
traders,  whether  on  land  or  afloat,  are  irresistible. 

Is  there,  then,  sufficient  reason  why  their  inveterate  habits  should 
be  humored  at  the  cost  of  extirpating  the  supply  of  salmon  ? 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

"W.  F.  WHITCHES,  J.  P. 
QUEBEC,  81st  December,  1859. 


NOTE  TO  THE  TRIP  TO  LA  VAL. 


For  the  information  of  those  who  may  desire  to  trust  themselves 
alone  to  the  companionship  of  the  Canadian  French,  the  following 
list  has  been  added  of  a  few  words  that  will  be  most  necessary,  and 
many  of  which  will  be  found  in  no  French  dictionary  : 


Potak, 

Potatoe.                    Sapin, 

Balsam  fir. 

Batture, 

Shoal  of  rocks. 

Moustique, 

Black  fly. 

Baril, 

Barrel. 

Ecorce, 

Bark. 

Brulot, 

Sand-fly. 

Aborder, 

To  trim  in. 

Buchan, 

Smudge.. 

Filer, 

To  ease  off. 

Brochat, 

Mascallonge. 

Coude, 

Sheet. 

Chaloupe, 

Pilot-boat. 

Mizzin, 

Foresail. 

Perche, 

Rod. 

Grande  voile, 

Mainsail. 

Eg°g, 

Spear. 

Luff, 

Luff. 

Gruyot, 

Porridge. 

Arrive, 

Keep  off. 

Belluat, 

Blueberry. 

Tapitue, 

Jigger. 

Pleindurer, 

To  fill. 

Jib, 

Jib. 

Peinturer, 

To  paint. 

Steambo, 

Steamboat. 

Cite, 

Here. 

Bagage, 

Baggage. 

Roches, 

Rocks. 

Pinette, 

Spruce. 

Pilote, 

Pilot. 

Marounquin, 

Mosquito. 

APPENDIX.  321 


NOTE  TO  TKIP  TO  NEW  BRUNSWICK. 

Fish  of  all  kinds  are  extremely  cheap  in  the  provinces.  Salmon, 
near  Boiestown,  sell  for  sixty  cents  apiece,  regardless  of  size,  and 
grilse  for  twenty.  In  other  places  salmon  are  five  cents  a  pound, 
while  smoked  fish  are  worth  one  dollar  and  twenty -five  cents  apiece. 
Lobsters  are  a  nuisance  to  the  fisherman,  from  their  numbers ;  and 
herring  are  abundant. 

The  expenses  of  a  trip  for  two  fishermen  visiting  both  the  Mira- 
michi  and  Nipisiquit,  and  occupying  a  month,  were  as  follows : 

Fare  to  St.  John $12  00 

State  room 1  00 

To  Fredericton 8  00 

Extra  to  Wilson's 11  00 

Stores  for  the  Miramichi 32  34 

Men's  wages 60  00 

Extra  to  Newcastle 17  00 

Fare  to  Chatham 1  40 

"  Bathurst 7  00 

Stores  on  the  Itfipisiquit 29  95 

Men's  wages . . . ". 50  00 

Wagon  to  the  Round  Rocks 4  00 

Extra  on  return  to  Chatham 14  00 

Fare  to  St.  John 8  00 

"  Boston 11  00 

Meals  and  other  expenses 35  00 

Delicacies 10  00 

$306  69 


CLASSIFICATION. 

Every  naturalist  originates  a  classification  for  himself;  thank 
Heaven,  I  am  only  a  sportsman,  and  shall  merely  refer  to  that  of 
Cuvier.  He  makes  grand  divisions  of  fish  into  the  bony  and  carti- 
laginous ;  the  former  being  separated  into  spinous  and  soft  rayed, 
the  latter  into  those  with  free  or  fixed  gills. 

Acanthopterygii,  fin-rays  spinous,  including  the  percidm,  or  perch 
family,  which  has  the  edge  of  the  gill-cover,  or  fore  gill-cover,  or 
both,  denticulated  or  armed  with  spines ;  the  cheeks  not  mailed,  and 
teeth  on  both  jaws,  the  vomer  and  palatines.  In  this  family  are 
comprised  the  perca  or  perch  proper,  the  labrax  or  salt-water  bass, 

14* 


322  APPENDIX. 


the  Jiuro  or  black  bass  of  Lake  Huron,  the  lueio  perca  or  pike  perch, 
the  seranus  or  groupa,  the  centropristes  or  sea  bass,  the  grystes  or 
black  bass,  the  centrarcJius  or  rock  bass — two  genera  generally  con- 
founded— the  pomotis  or  sun-fish,  and  several  others  so  rare  in  our 
waters  that  they  are  omitted. 

The  second  family  of  the  spine-rayed  order  is  the  triglida,  which 
is  similar  to  the  percidm,  except  that  the  cheeks  are  mailed  as  it  were 
by  the  suborbitals  being  greatly  extended  and  articulated  with  the 
fore  gill-cover.  It  includes  the  trigla  prionotus  and  dactylopteriis 
or  gurnard  and  flying-fish;  the  cottus,  sculpin  or  bull-head;  the 
hemitripterus,  also  known  as  sculpin  ;  and  the  gasterosteus  or  stickle- 
back ;  besides  many  genera  that  are  rare. 

The  third  family  is  the  scienidce,  which  have  no  teeth  in  the  pala- 
tines or  vomer,  but  have  scales  on  the  base  of  the  vertical  fins; 
otherwise  they  resemble  the  perch  family.  They  comprise  the 
leiostomus  or  Lafayette,  the  otolithus  or  weak-fish,  the  corvina  or 
lake  sheepshead  and  branded  drum  or  red-fish  of  the  South,  the 
umbrina  or  king-fish,  the  pogonias  or  salt-water  drum. 

The  fourth  family  is  the  sparidce,  which  has  no  spines  or  denticu- 
lations  on  the  gill-covers,  and  no  teeth  on  the  palate,  but  has  large 
scales.  It  includes  the  sargus  or  salt-water  sheepshead  and  sand- 
porgee,  and  the  pagrus  or  common  porgee. 

The  next  family  that  frequents  our  waters  is  the  scombridce,  which 
has  no  spines  or  denticulations  on  the  gill-covers,  and  no  scales  on 
the  vertical  fins ;  the  scales  are  small.  It  includes  the  scomber  or 
mackerel  proper,  the  thynnus  or  tunny,  the  pelamys  or  bonito,  the 
tricMurus  or  ribbon-fish,  the  xipJiias  or  sword-fish,  the  naucrates 
or  pilot-fish,  the  caranx  or  yellow  mackerel,  the  seriole  or  rudder- 
fish,  the  temnodon  or  blue-fish,  the  rhombus  or  harvest-fish. 

The  next  family  is  the  atherinidce,  represented  by  the  silversides 
or  sand-smelts;  and  the  next  the  mugilidce.  It  has  minute  teeth, 
entire  and  large  scales  extending  over  the  head,  and  comprises  the 
mugil  or  mullet  proper.  The  next  family  is  the  gobidce,  which  have 
an  elongated  body,  small  scales  or  none,  the  spines  of  the  dorsal 
flexible,  and  the  ventrals,  when  present,  before  the  pectorals,  and  it 
includes  the  gunnellus  or  butter-fish,  the  zoarces  or  eel-pout ;  and  the 
next  the  lophidce,  which  usually  have  no  scales,  but  occasionally 
spiny  plates  in  lieu  of  them,  and  have  the  carpal  bones  elongated  to 
support  the  pectorals.  The  lophius  proper  is  the  sea-devil  or  fishing- 
frog,  a  rapacious  creature,  well  known  on  our  coast  by  various  names, 
and  the  fiatrachus,  the  well-known  toad-fish. 

The  last  of  the  spine-rayed  families  is  the  Idbridce,  which  have 
fleshy  lips  covering  the  jaws,  toothless  tongue  and  palate,  three 
pharyngeals,  two  above  and  one  beneath,  furnished  with  teeth,  sharp 
or  flattened,  and  an  oblong,  scaly  body.  This  family  comprises  the 
ctenolabrus  or  bergall,  otherwise  chogset  or  cunner,  and  the  tautoga, 
tautog  or  black-fish. 


APPENDIX.  323 


The  malacopterygii,  or  soft-rayed,  are  separated  into  the  abdomi- 
nal, which  have  the  ventrals  in  the  centre  of  the  abdomen ;  the  sub- 
~bracliial,  which  have  the  ventrals  at  the  shoulder ;  and  the  apodal, 
or  footless,  that  is  without  lower  fins. 

Of  the  abdominal,  the  first  family  is  that  of  the  silurida.  It  is 
distinguished  by  a  naked,  slimy  skin,  a  large  head  with  several  fila- 
ments, usually  a  second  adipose  dorsal,  and  the  first  ray  of  the  dorsal 
and  pectoral  a  strong  articulated  spine.  They  comprise  the  cat-fish, 
bull-pouts,  bull-heads  and  horned-pouts,  as  you  please  to  call  them, 
the  common  kinds  being  classed  under  the  genus  pimelodus. 

The  second  family  is  the  cyprinidce,  which  have  small  jaws,  a  weak 
mouth,  mostly  toothless,  large  scales,  one  dorsal,  and  teeth  on  the 
pharyngeals.  The  cyprinus  carpio  is  the  common  carp,  the  cyprinus 
auratus  the  gold-fish,  both  of  which  were  imported  and  are  not  indi- 
genous. This  family  also  includes  the  dbramis  or  bream,  sometimes 
called  dace ;  the  Itibeo,  chub  or  chub-sucker ;  the  catastomus  or 
common  sucker,  of  which  genus  the  species  are  known  by  varied 
popular  appellatives,  such  as  mullet,  barbel,  dace,  horned-dace,  golden 
mullet,  red-horse  and  shoemaker ;  the  genus  leuciscus  or  dace  proper, 
also  the  red -fin,  roach  and  shiners ;  the  fundulus  or  killifish,  other- 
wise minnow  or  muminychog ;  and  the  hydragira  or  fresh-water 
minnow. 

The  next  family,  the  esocidce,  has  one  dorsal  opposite  the  anal,  an 
elongated  body,  and  a  large  mouth  filled  with  sharp  teeth.  It  in- 
cludes the  esox  or  pickerel  and  mascallonge;  the  belone  or  sea-pike, 
sometimes  miscalled  gar-fish  and  sea-snipe ;  the  scomberesox  or  bill- 
fish  ;  and  the  exocetus  or  flying-fish  proper. 

The  family  of  ih& jftstularidce  includes  the  pipe-fish;  and  the  next 
family  of  importance  is  that  of  the  salmonidca,  comprising  the  salmo 
salar  or  salmon,  the  salmo  fontinalis  or  American  brook  trout,  the 
salmo  confinis  or  lake  trout,  and  the  salmo  amethystus  or  Mackinaw 
salmon,  the  osmerus  or  smelt,  and  the  coregonus  or  white-fish  and 
Otsego  bass. 

The  family  of  the  clupidw  has  a  single  dorsal  and  compressed 
scaly  body.  It  includes  the  clupea  or  herring,  the  alosa  or  shad,  ale- 
wife  and  mossbunker ;  and  the  family  of  the  sauridcs  has  only  one 
common  representative,  called  the  buffalo-fish. 

Of  the  sub-brachial  we  have  the  family  gadidce,  which  have  the 
jaws  and  point  of  the  vomer  armed  with  rasp-like  teeth,  and  two  or 
three  dorsals.  Morrhua,  cod,  torn-cod  or  frost-fish,  haddock  and  the 
melucim,  or  hake,  form  the  most  considerable  genera ;  the  lota  or 
burbot  of  the  lakes,  and  the  merlangus  or  pollack,  are  also  taken  in 
large  numbers. 

The  next  family,  the  planida,  has  a  flat  body,  the  under  side 
white  and  the  upper  dark,  both  eyes  on  one  side  of  the  head,  and  a 
dorsal  extending  the  entire  length  of  the  back.  It  includes  the  hip- 


324  APPENDIX. 


poglossus  or  halibut;  the  platessa,  flounder,  fluke  and  flat-fish;  the 
pleuronectes  or  turbot ;  and  the  achirm  or  sole. 

Of  the  apodals,  or  those  without  lower  fins,  we  have  the  anguil- 
lidcB  or  eels,  and  the  genus  conger  or  conger  eel,  and  the  ammodytes 
or  sand -lance. 

The  subdivision  lophobranchii,  which  is  distinguished  by  having 
little  tufts  at  the  gills,  has  the  following  families  : 

The  syngnathida,  which  have  the  body  armed  with  transverse 
plates,  and  have  a  large  gill-cover  and  single  dorsal.  It  includes  the 
syngnathus  or  pipe-fish,  and  the  hippocampus  or  sea-horse. 

The  subdivision  plectonathi  have  concealed  gills  and  a  narrow 
fissure  for  gill  opening;  the  family  gymnodontidce  has  in  lieu  of 
teeth  a  bony  substance  like  enamel,  and  includes  the  diodon  or 
balloon-fish  and  the  tetraodon  or  swell-fish,  both  of  which  can  inflate 
themselves.  The  family  balistidce  is  represented  by  the  file  or 
fool -fish. 

Of  the  cartilaginous  fish  the  eleutheropomi  have  free  gills  with  a 
strong  cover,  but  no  rays,  and  include  the  family  of  the  sturionidce, 
which  have  large  bony  plates  in  longitudinal  rows  and  a  mouth 
underneath  and  toothless.  The  genus  acipenser  or  sturgeon  is  alone 
common. 

The  order  plagiostotni  has  fixed  gills  without  cover ;  the  family 
squalida,  which  has  the  gill-holes  never  underneath,  comprises  the 
carcharias  or  shark,  the  lamna  or  mackerel  shark,  the  mustellus  or 
dog-fish,  the  selachus  or  basking  shark,  and  the  zygcena  or  hammer- 
headed  shark. 

The  family  raiidce  has  a  flattened  body,  large  pectorals  and  bran- 
chial openings  underneath.  It  comprises  the  rays,  the  skates  and 
the  devil-fish. 

The  order  cyclostomi  includes  the  family petromyzonidce,  which  has 
neither  pectorals  nor  ventrals,  comprising  the  petromyzon  or  sea- 
lamprey  and  the  ammoccetes  or  common  lamprey. 

These  are  the  principal  varieties  of  fish  found  in  the  waters  of  the 
northern  section  of  America  according  to  their  scientific  designa- 
tions and  their  confused  and  intricate  popular  appellations.  Perhaps 
in  time,  with  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  and  the  efforts  of  sportsmen, 
uniformity  may  be  obtained,  and  the  language  of  Massachusetts  be 
comprehensible  to  the  inhabitants  of  Iowa.  To  effect  this  object 
should  be  the  desire  of  all,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  naturalists  and 
sportsmen  will  mutually  aid  one  another  by  ascertaining  the  appro- 
priate name  of  each  species,  and  when  ascertained,  by  applying  it 
invariably. 


I 


» 


tS& 


if 


